11 tips for working from home

A tidy workplace, getting outside to get some fresh air regularly, and clear agreements with the family: team Ofri has been working location-independent since before the Corona pandemic. We don’t always work from home, but we sure know what it takes to organize ourselves successfully in our own four walls and how to rock working remotely in the long run.

Hey Benny - we want one of those Ofri cups, too!!

01 Dress as if you would go to the office, but…

As Karl Lagerfeld once said, "Anyone who wears sweatpants has lost control of their life." One-third of Ofri’s employees and freelancers confirm that pajamas and beat-up socks don't support them getting into work mode. They deliberately dress as if they were going to the office. "It helps me to clearly separate work and home, and that includes clothing," says former Ofri-developer Micha Tarsa.

That being said, as one of the female Ofris I can only say, well, how shall I put this? Who in the world will notice in a Zoom meeting, if I wear a bra or not? And I won’t name anyone else, but I can assure you: I’m not the only woman on our team who discreetly enjoys some freedom in the chest area every now and then.

Also - have you ever worked in 45-degree Celsius weather without AC? Well, I have and a damp bikini is the most wonderfully refreshing home office attire when you live in scorching hot Seville. While your forearms keep sticking to the desk, at least your butt and tatas stay fresh! And no, I don’t wear only a bikini for meetings - I’m a content and communications person, not a pin-up, for Chrissake.

02 Celebrate the good aspects of the commute

What at first seems like an easy loss to get over, many end up missing: the commute. Two Ofri employees sometimes deliberately go for a walk before and after their day's work: "It marks the beginning and end of work," says Kelley Griffiths. Sophie Lübeck has an additional tip: Continue to enjoy the good parts of the commute. Our product owner has noticed how much she loves listening to music on the road. She now consciously treats herself to that, even without having to commute.

03 Creative solutions for the workplace

A clearly separated and well-furnished workplace is crucial for almost all Ofri employees. A quarter use setting up and taking down their desk and laptop every day as a conscious ritual. "For me, it feels like the commute," says freelancer Veronika Pfleger. Kelley Griffiths also sticks to the "no mixed use of spaces" rule and never works in the kitchen or bed.

04 Consciously plan social contacts

For many, the lack of social contact is the biggest shortcoming of working from home. Team Ofri recommends: arrange to meet colleagues or friends for lunch or coffee. It doesn’t really matter if you meet them in real life or online, actually. "A virtual lunch feels like sitting together in the office as usual," says Pia Greinacher. Playing sports, photo contests and shared playlists with colleagues also provide entertainment and the necessary team spirit.

05 Make clear agreements with the family

Young children and work aren't always easy to combine under one roof. "For me, that was the biggest challenge”, says Maria Grigoroiu. Her loved ones had to learn that she was really working and herself, not to jump up immediately when family members need something. Silvia Piangou felt the same way at first. Clear rules would have helped a lot.

Virginia Woolf said it, so does Andrea Cherif: A room of one’s own helps tremendously to get any work done. Her children grew up with her working from home, but at Ofri she has more phone calls and meetings than before, so being able to close a door helps them to respect their mother’s boundaries. Ofri founder Benny Hertach has two young children and recommends a sign on the door: "It doesn't always help, but it can reduce interruptions."

06 Reduce distractions and plan wisely

Whether it's the family, cell phones, the team chat joyfully beeping away or doing the dishes – home office environments and the lack of social control can tempt people into getting lost in all kinds of distractions. Self-responsibility, practical measures such as noise-canceling headphones and turned-off chats, and sensible planning can remedy the situation.

Piangou recommends having the household up and running when you start work. Griffiths blocks out fixed times for specific tasks and ends the workday by planning the next day, which also helps her to clear her head.

07 Structure working hours and breaks

What sounds like the greatest, most delicious freedom at first, can quickly turn into a stressful scourge: the ability to freely arrange one's working hours. Juri von Krause consistently closes his laptop at 7 p.m. and Andrea also sticks to a clear schedule. “Without having those fixed hours, I always felt like I was running late and actually ended up doing extra hours,” says the mother of three.

At Ofri, most employees appreciate fixed routines and procedures. Benny and Silvia advise even planning the breaks and using them for nice things. Griffiths consciously gets up, walks around, and stretches throughout the day. Once she has shut off her computer, she always meditates or does the relaxation exercise Yoga Nidra. 

08 Take good care of your body

Team Ofri agrees: body and mind need exercise and fresh air! Von Krause tries to get out of the building and exercise at least once a day. "It's much easier to work out at home than in the office," he notes. Pia makes sure to always eat lunch at the same time, while Silvia and Maria deliberately have their meals with their families.

09 Get out of the house for work

Half of team Ofri likes to mix things up to combat cabin fever, so they also work from other places than home, whenever they can. Corina Burri has found not only social contacts but also friends in a co-working office and says she works more efficiently there. Her tip: Define exactly what your ideal co-working space needs to have and take the time to find it. If you don't want to or can't pay the extra rent Silvia recommends converting a quiet café or hotel into your personal out-of-home office.

10 Enjoy the freedom

Despite all helpful structure and discipline, the big advantage of working from home without a fixed schedule is its freedom. The author of this here text loves to work without too strict a schedule and being able to change her plans spontaneously and yes, according to the weather.

Managing director Benny explicitly motivates remote workers to take advantage of their newfound freedom: "Maybe you'll discover karaoke singing or tap dancing for yourself - whatever. Then you can use the new hobby for breaks from work and recharge your batteries that way."

11 Get inspired - book tips for working from home

• Maria Grigoroiu was able to increase her productivity with "Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World" by Cal Newport.

• Kelley Griffiths has the idea of clear use for spaces from "Atomic habits" by James Clear.

• Corina Burri recommends "Remote: Office not required" by Jason Fried.