1. the right workplace

Find a quiet place in your home to work where nobody will disturb you. If you don't have a study, it's best to set up a work corner. It is generally important to create a fixed workstation or work corner so that it is easier to switch to "office mode" at home. Make sure that the workplace is sufficiently lit. Set yourself up near a window, for example, as daylight increases productivity and helps combat fatigue. To prevent back pain, it is better not to sit at the kitchen table, but to work at a desk and ideally sit on a height-adjustable desk chair.

Tip: Put a bunch of flowers on your desk to brighten up the mood and look nice. Decorations and a few motivational sayings will also lift your spirits and make working from home much more enjoyable.

2. maintain routines

Even when working from home, set yourself fixed times when you start work in the morning and finish in the evening. Ideally, you should choose the same times that you normally work. By sticking to this routine with discipline, you are guaranteed to find it easier to work from home. Another good trick is to get dressed in the morning as if you were going to the office anyway, which will help you to switch to work mode.

3. move around and take breaks

Just like when working in the office, you should also make sure you take breaks when working from home. Again, stick to your normal rhythm: If you always took a one-hour break at the office at lunchtime, then handle it the same way at home. Take a walk, for example. The exercise and fresh air are beneficial and clear your head. Get up regularly, grab a cup of coffee or let your shoulders roll - the movement gets your circulation going.

4 Communicate with colleagues

Stay in contact with your colleagues. When working from home, it is all the more important to make clear arrangements and divide up the tasks at hand, as you don't see each other in person. Fortunately, there are more than enough ways to communicate these days thanks to video calls, emails and the telephone. Thanks to regular exchanges with colleagues, we don't run the risk of becoming lonely in the home office.

Author: Ilka-Marie Hagenbücher