Millennial Money: Transition from work-at-home novice to pro

Months into working from home, it’s time to check in with yourself. How is your work-life balance? Have you figured out when and how you work best? And when did you last shower?

As work and home life meld, it’s difficult to maintain boundaries, stay productive and take care of your mental health amid the pandemic.

Since work from home orders are likely to stick around for those lucky enough to do their jobs away from their workplace, now is a good opportunity to professionalize your work habits and find a sustainable setup for the coming months.

KNOW YOURSELF AND WORK ACCORDINGLY

You may instinctively know when you’re at your peak performance and what conditions you need to achieve it. Some people are at their best right after they’ve had their morning coffee and settled in at a desk. Others might sleep in and then start work while still in bed.

Clearly defining when and how you work best helps you set clear expectations for yourself and your colleagues.

To understand when you’re most productive, career coach and entrepreneur Felecia Hatcher recommends conducting a time audit. Track your workday in 15-minute increments for one week. “A time audit is going to radically change your life personally, and then you get to showcase to your boss when your most productive times of day are,” Hatcher says.

Keep track of your audit in a spreadsheet or a notebook, detailing meetings, lunch breaks, blocks of time dedicated to heads-down work, and stretches when you don’t get much done. This will reveal when you’re productive and when you might be better served taking a break, going for a walk or taking a power nap.

Next, think about conditions that help you focus.

Some need to sit in a specific spot to accomplish anything. Others might just need an internet...