The 5 Rules of Working From Home

Schedule Your Day

Create a structured routine, “which will help your mind and body adapt to a new working environment,” says Alan Hedge, Ph.D, director of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Laboratory at Cornell University. Concentration can falter in as little as 20 minutes, so Hedge recommends what he calls the 20-20-20 rule: Work for 20 minutes, break for 20 seconds, then while breaking, look 20 feet away to reset your focus and attention span.

If you tend to stay up late or sleep in, you can help synchronize your body clock so you’re alert during working hours by stepping outside for 15 to 20 minutes each day. According to experts, sunlight helps stimulate the pineal gland, which produces melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle.