9-5, Monday-Friday, in-person office work are all relics of the past. Let's revolutionize how you live by changing how you work.
Do These WFH Hacks Work?
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Read this on the web | Subscribe A recent discussion on the WFH subreddit asked people to share work-from-home hacks that sound ridiculous but actually changed everything. I thought it would be fun to break down some of the most popular ones and share my take on them. 1. Using Dictation SoftwareAs someone with ADHD, I actually didn’t like my transition to WFH. I felt like there were distractions everywhere and the dreaded 'wait, did I just spend 45 minutes typing three sentences?'. Then I stumbled upon dictation software.
Talking my thoughts instead of typing them completely rewired how I work. Now I 'write' emails, Slack messages, notes, etc., without moving my hands. My colleagues also thought it was nuts until they tried it themselves. Now they’re hooked.
[Willow Voice] is the one I currently use and I like it. It’s accurate even with technical terms and formats text properly. I rarely have to fix mistakes and I barely feel the latency.
My thoughts: This is one of the reasons I love remote work. In an office, dictation software would be disruptive, but at home, you can structure your work environment however you want. Personally, I prefer writing to speaking, but this is exactly why remote work is powerful. You can experiment and figure out what works best for you. The office kept us all in a box. It makes me happy to see hacks like this being shared because it means people are taking the time to break the mold. 2. Rituals for Work ModeGetting changed into work clothes to know I'm in work mode.
End-of-day rituals like smart lights changing to a relaxed color and a shower to get out of work mode.
My thoughts: I'm a big believer in rituals, but I’ve always been skeptical of replicating office behaviors just for the sake of it. If you enjoy dressing up and it helps you focus, go for it! But if you're like me and find professional clothing annoying and distracting, know that this isn't required. One of the first articles I ever wrote on remote work was on rethinking our WFH attire. If it helps you focus, but you'd like to change it, use the layering technique. Continue wearing the professional clothing, but add your preferred ritual, then over several weeks slowly transition away from each piece of professional clothing until only your preferred ritual remains. The smart lighting and shower trick is one I use and love too. Everyone needs to design their own virtual commute, and it really can be this simple. 3. Reusable NotepadsNow that I don’t have access to regular office supplies like note pads and stickies, I have a reusable notepad, one that you can erase. I use the Rocketbook brand because you can snap a photo and through the app, it will translate your notes to text. My thoughts: I'm also a big fan of Rocketbook, but I actually prefer their stickable whiteboards. They’re movable, come in multiple sizes, and keep away the guilt of wasting paper while riffing on ideas for brainstorming. 4. Walking PadsStanding desk + walking pad = 15k steps per day. I walk 3 mph anytime I’m not in meetings, and it has revolutionized my fitness schedule. My thoughts: Personally, I hate walking pads. They give me a headache and are too distracting. But I know plenty of people who swear by them. My alternative? Converting as many meetings as possible to voice calls so I can take them while walking outside. I come up with better ideas and feel better at the end of the day compared to being stuck in a room. 5. Working Around OthersThis is going to sound terribly silly, but just having someone in the house helps me focus. When the house is empty other than me, I get terribly distracted. It's kind of similar to the feeling when you're the only one awake, I've always found that eerie. My thoughts: This is another tip that I don't relate to at all but I know many others who do. That eerie feeling they described is one I really love. When my husband started working from home in 2019, I had to completely relearn focus strategies. But I know many remote workers (especially those with ADHD) who benefit from body doubling. Coworking with a friend or using a tool like Sukha can help if you struggle with focus when alone. 6. Ditching the Desk and Office ChairI've completely removed my desk and now just have a couch and an adjustable height dining table and exclusively work on a laptop.
It's the complete opposite of what anyone would ever suggest in terms of ergonomics... And the back and neck pain I've had for years have completely resolved. I used to be at the physiotherapist every few months at least. Now I haven't been for 2 years.
Basically this setup forces me to shift positions every 10 minutes, whereas a traditional desk and desk chair force me to stay in the same position for 8 hours.
My thoughts: This one is interesting and I'm glad people are discussing this instead of the usual ergonomic discussion. While I wouldn’t recommend working from your couch all day, I do recommend having multiple work zones (including your couch). Our bodies aren’t meant to stay in the same position (whether in the office or at home) for eight hours straight. Having multiple work zones helps to reduce strain and improve focus. 7. Fasting While WorkingI work east coast and live west coast. I’m up and at my desk somewhere around 5:00 every day. It’s when the creative brain is not challenged by the doubtful brain. Come up with some great ideas I don’t second guess myself out of doing.
It’s so much easier to intermittent fast. I eat “lunch” at 9:00 and dinner at 5:00. Those are my only two meals. Not quite 16/8 but close enough.
Going to bed at 8:00pm is the key and carrying the practice into the weekend/holidays helps with routine.
My thoughts: I used to practice intermittent fasting before pregnancy and nursing, and it worked well for me (especially in eliminating the afternoon slump). It’s much easier to maintain at home than in an office, where snacks are everywhere, lunch breaks are socially structured, and meal prep is inconvenient. One of the biggest benefits of remote work is having full control over your environment. Instead of constantly resisting bad choices, you can structure your surroundings to make good choices the default. Whether it’s fasting, switching to an alternative diet, or simply avoiding mindless snacking, WFH allows you to create a setup that supports your health and productivity. For me, fasting felt effortless at home because I could establish a consistent routine without external distractions. I could plan meals based on when I worked best rather than when the clock dictated. Instead of forcing myself into good habits, I designed an environment where making bad choices required extra effort. This concept applies beyond food. Working from home gives you the freedom to be intentional about how you structure your workday, energy, and focus in ways that would be impossible in a traditional office. Final Thoughts: The Best Part of WFH? Customization.What works for one person might not work for another, but that’s the whole point. The best part of working from home is the ability to optimize your environment and working style for you. If you’ve been doing something the same way for a long time, I highly recommend switching things up. Different phases of life call for different techniques, and it’s never too late to experiment with what helps you work best. What’s your favorite WFH hack? Reply to this email and share what works for you. Quote of the Week In Other News Eighth anniversary of the 'BBC Dad' Tiny Experiments A couple of years ago, I featured her untraditional workday, where she shared how she approaches work through experimentation. Now, our book club chat is reading Tiny Experiments, and it’s amazing to see how her ideas have evolved into a full book. Highly recommend checking it out, especially since it pairs perfectly with today’s article! In Case You Missed ItIntroducing: Idea Kitchen
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9-5, Monday-Friday, in-person office work are all relics of the past. Let's revolutionize how you live by changing how you work.
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