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What should you do when working from home is working your last nerve?
For most, remote working is a dream.
No commute. No awkward kitchen small talk. Working in your pyjamas with your cat as your co-worker. Bliss.
Remote work can be brilliant — but it’s not always easy. If your motivation’s gone AWOL, you can’t concentrate to save your life, and you’re starting to miss face-to-face human interaction… you’re not alone. Here’s how to get back on track.
1. Build a “fake” commute
You know what’s weird? That annoying commute you used to hate was actually doing something for your brain. It gave you a chance to switch gears, shift into work mode and decompress afterwards.
Try replacing it with something else: a walk round the block, a quick podcast while you make a cuppa, even just getting dressed properly (yes, trousers included).
Instead of rolling straight from bed to laptop, you do a ten-minute walk every morning — just you, your coffee and maybe some music motivation. Mood = lifted.
2. Get your workspace in order
Working from your bed? Tempting. But also guaranteed to kill productivity and ruin your back. You don’t need a full-blown home office, but you do need some kind of boundary between “work” and “home.”
Even if it’s a laptop stand and a dedicated corner of your kitchen, set it up. Respect it. And leave it at the end of the day.
Pack it away when you're done — especially if you're living in a small space. Out of sight = out of work mode.
3. Be honest if you’re struggling
There’s this weird pressure with remote work to look like you’ve got it all sorted. But if you're behind, burned out or feel disconnected, speak up. Your manager can’t fix what they don’t know.
You’re not “bad at remote working” — you’re human. And humans need structure, support and, occasionally, a good moan about Teams meetings that should’ve been emails.
4. Use your breaks properly
Scrolling on your phone between tasks isn't a break. That’s just more screen time.
Actually take breaks. Go outside. Call a friend. Stretch. Do one of those weird five-minute dance workouts you swore you’d never try. Your brain needs variety, not just a different tab open.
Example:
Mid-afternoon slump hits. You do ten jumping jacks, laugh at how out of breath you are, and suddenly you’re energised enough to tackle your inbox. Sort of.
5. Reconnect with your team (without it being cringe)
If you’re starting to feel isolated, you're not alone — remote work can get lonely. But don’t wait until you’re spiralling to reach out. Book in a catch-up. Start a silly Slack thread. Suggest playing online games together.
People need people. Even if it’s just for a five-minute “Guess what my dog ate this morning” chat.
6. Create fake pressure (it works, we promise)
Remote work removes a lot of the usual external pressure — and for some of us, that’s when the procrastination starts.
Try a virtual co-working session. Use a Pomodoro timer. Tell yourself you only have until 11am to get a task done, then “reward” yourself with a biscuit (or three).
Example:
You tell your colleague, “I’m finishing this report by 10:30 — check in with me or shame me publicly.” It gets done. Fear is a powerful motivator.
If remote working has turned into a bit of a slog, that’s not a personal failure. It’s just the reality of working in your own space with no real boundaries. The trick isn’t to be perfect — it’s to be self-aware enough to notice when it’s not working, and willing to tweak things.
You’ve got this.