Can you be productive while working from home?

The evolution of work schedules in 2025

As National Work From Home Day on May 17, 2025 has just passed, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how the workplace conversation has fundamentally shifted. Creating a productive work schedule combining home and flexible workspace days has become essential for today’s professionals. With approximately 28% of employees worldwide now working in hybrid arrangements, the most successful workers aren’t choosing one location exclusively—they’re strategically blending environments to maximise the benefits each offers.

This intentional approach to scheduling allows you to leverage the focused productivity of home working with the collaborative energy and professional resources of flexible workspaces. By thoughtfully designing your productive work schedule combining home and flexible workspace time, you can create a work rhythm that enhances both efficiency and wellbeing.

Why your work location matters for productivity

Recent research tells a compelling story about how our environment shapes our work quality:

• 77% of remote workers report increased productivity when working from home 68% of workers find collaborative projects more effective when done in-person (Workplace Intelligence, 2024)
• 63% of UK employees show reduced symptoms of burnout when following a hybrid schedule compared to exclusively remote or in-office arrangements (MHFA England, 2024)

The quiet, personalised environment of home allows for deeper concentration and fewer interruptions for focused tasks. Meanwhile, the spontaneous exchanges, non-verbal cues, and energy of face-to-face interaction create a synergy that’s difficult to replicate virtually.

Perhaps most revealing is that variety itself may be the key ingredient for sustainable productivity. Understanding these patterns allows you to design a schedule that places each type of work in its optimal environment, creating a rhythm that works with your brain’s natural preferences rather than against them.

Designing your optimal weekly schedule

1. Audit your work tasks and categorise them

Think of your work tasks as plants in a garden – each thrives in specific conditions. Some require the bright sunlight of collaboration, while others need the sheltered quiet of focused attention.

Home-optimal tasks:

• Deep focus work requiring minimal interruption
• Writing, analysis, and research
• Detailed individual projects
• Administrative tasks
• Learning and development activities

Flexible workspace-optimal tasks:

• Collaborative meetings and brainstorming sessions
• Client or stakeholder meetings
• Team-building activities
• Networking opportunities
• Creative work benefiting from a change of environment

Location-neutral tasks:

• Regular check-ins and status updates
• Email management
• Routine calls that don’t require special equipment
• Planning and organisation

By mapping your typical week’s activities into these categories, you’ll begin to see natural patterns emerge that can guide your ideal schedule design.

2. Consider your personal productivity patterns

We all have internal rhythms as unique as our fingerprints. Understanding your personal patterns is crucial to designing a schedule that works with your nature rather than against it.

Try this simple experiment: For one week, keep a small journal noting your energy levels, focus quality, and mood at different times of day. You might discover:

• Your peak performance hours (morning person vs. night owl)
• How much social interaction energises vs. drains you
• How many consecutive days of isolation or social interaction you can handle
• Which days of the week you typically need more or less collaboration

External factors matter too. A long commute might make daily office visits impractical, but twice-weekly visits could provide the perfect balance. Family commitments, standing meetings, and other fixed points in your schedule should serve as the framework around which you build your flexible elements.

3. Create your hybrid schedule template

With your tasks categorised and personal patterns identified, you can now design a weekly rhythm that harmonises with both your work requirements and personal energy flows.

Monday: Setting the stage at your flexible workspace, think team meetings, project kick-offs and opportunities to build relationships.

Tuesday: Deep dive at home. With Monday’s clarity guiding you, you’ve got the space for deep focus work, individual project work and L&D. 

Wednesday: Return to your flexible workspace to realign with colleagues and clients, share progress, and address any obstacles.

Thursday: The optimal office day, presentations, 1-1s and team social time.

Friday: Back at home, you can tie-up any loose ends, finish prepping for next week with less distractions and smoothly transition into the weekend.

This is the structure that Work.Life has adopted for their support team (just because we’re a flexible workspace doesn’t mean we’re anti-wfh!) For us, it means that we have the opportunity to forge those important connections with each other, with our membership team and our members. We recently moved into our Farringdon space on St Cross Street, which has been a game-changer for productivity. 

Optimising your work-from-home days

The difference between a frustrating work-from-home day and a brilliantly productive one often comes down to intentional design—both of your space and your routine.

1. Create a proper home workspace

Your environment shapes your mind. A thoughtfully designed home workspace sends powerful signals to your brain about the work ahead and minimises the physical distractions that can derail your focus.

• Ergonomic foundation – A dedicated desk at proper height, supportive chair, eye-level monitor, and correctly positioned keyboard and mouse to prevent physical strain
• Optimised environment – Natural light, good ventilation, minimal noise, and personalised motivational elements that create a focused atmosphere
• Technology infrastructure – Reliable internet connection with backup options, necessary software tools, and proper security measures
• Clear boundaries – Physical separation between work and living spaces (even if in the same room) to help your brain associate the area with productivity
• Comfort considerations – Temperature control, adequate hydration station, and comfortable but professional attire to maintain focus without discomfort

The ideal setup balances professional functionality with personal comfort. While a dedicated room offers the clearest boundary between work and home life, even a corner of a shared space can become an effective workspace with thoughtful arrangement. The key is consistency – your brain learns to associate this specific environment with focused work, making it easier to slip into a productive state.

2. Establish WFH day routines

Without the external structure of a commute and office environment, creating your own rituals becomes essential. These routines serve as bridges, helping you transition between different modes of being throughout your day.

Morning routine:

• Wake up at a consistent time
• Morning self-care (exercise, meditation)
• Professional preparation (even if casual)
• Workspace setup

Work blocks:

• Schedule focused work during your peak productivity hours
• Use techniques like Pomodoro (25 minutes work, 5 minutes break)
• Batch similar tasks together
• Schedule breaks and movement

End-of-day ritual:

• Review accomplishments and plan for tomorrow
• Shut-down work applications and devices
• Physically leave your workspace
• Transition activity to “commute home” mentally

As you work, consider structuring your day around your energy patterns rather than rigid hours. The freedom to align deep focus work with your natural peak performance times is one of the greatest advantages of working from home.

Breaks deserve as much intention as work periods. Rather than scrolling social media, use short breaks for physical movement, fresh air, or brief mindfulness practices. These activities refresh your cognitive resources rather than depleting them further.

Five ways to maximise your flexible workspace days:

1. Strategic preparation – Schedule collaborative meetings, bring necessary materials, plan your commute, and set clear objectives for the day
2. Thoughtful space utilisation – Book meeting rooms in advance, explore different workspace areas for various tasks, and leverage both collaborative and quiet zones
3. Intentional networking – Schedule coffee breaks with colleagues, attend community events, introduce yourself to other members, and build relationships with the community team
4. Time blocking efficiency – Group similar activities (meetings, focused work, networking) to minimise context switching and maximise the benefits of each workspace area
5. Flexibility mindset – Leave room in your schedule for spontaneous interactions and unexpected opportunities that only arise in shared environments

Don’t underestimate the value of informal connection. Some of the most important relationship building happens during coffee breaks, shared lunches, or end-of-day unwinding. Build margin into your in-office days for these seemingly unproductive moments – they often yield insights and connections that formal meetings miss.

Key considerations when developing a work from home policy

If you’re thinking about implementing or refining a work from home policy for your team, consider these essential elements:

Five key elements of an effective work from home policy:

1. Clear eligibility guidelines – Define suitable roles, frequency options (full-time, hybrid, occasional), probation period considerations, and performance criteria for remote work privileges
2. Equipment and expense framework – Establish expectations for company vs. personal equipment, stipends for home office setup, internet/utility reimbursements, and insurance/liability considerations
3. Productivity and accountability standards – Set expectations for working hours, communication response times, performance measurement, and regular check-in requirements
4. Legal and compliance safeguards – Address health and safety responsibilities, data protection requirements, necessary contract amendments, and tax implications for remote employees
5. Continuous improvement process – Implement regular policy effectiveness assessments, feedback mechanisms, flexibility for individual circumstances, and clear procedures for updates and communication

Celebrating national work from home day 2025

National Work From Home Day on May 17, 2025, offers a perfect moment to reflect on how far we’ve come in creating effective hybrid work patterns. Rather than seeing it as simply a day to work remotely, use it as an opportunity to deepen your understanding of effective work practices across environments.

The most productive work schedule isn’t about choosing between home and office—it’s about strategically combining both environments to leverage their unique advantages. By thoughtfully designing your week to place each type of work in its optimal setting, you can enhance productivity, improve collaboration, and support your wellbeing.

As we celebrate National Work From Home Day 2025, remember that the goal isn’t to work from home exclusively, but to create a sustainable, balanced approach that works for your specific needs, preferences, and responsibilities.

Looking for a flexible workspace to complement your work-from-home days? Book a tour of your nearest Work.Life location to discover how our spaces can support your hybrid work schedule.

For more insights on optimising workplace productivity, check out our blog.

Additional resources:

• Mental Health Foundation – Work-Life Balance
• CIPD Flexible Working Resources
• Health and Safety Executive – Home Working Guidance