Ways to Stay Grounded While Working Alone

Working from home used to sound like a dream, but now that it’s a reality for so many, the honeymoon phase is long over. If the usual advice about “setting a schedule” and “taking breaks” isn’t working for you anymore, maybe it’s time to try something a bit more out of the box. Here’s how to really shake things up and take control of your work-from-home grindstone, no clichés included.

Work in Strange Time Blocks

Forget the usual 9-to-5 schedule. Your brain doesn’t care what time the clock says it is, so why should you? If you’re working alone, you’ve got the flexibility to ditch the traditional workday structure and go for something that actually fits your energy levels.

Instead of working in long chunks, try breaking your day into strange, unpredictable blocks. Mix short bursts of hyper-focus with extended breaks, or even split your day into two or three separate shifts. This isn’t about squeezing more productivity out of yourself but about finding when your brain is naturally more alert.

Work for an hour at 6 a.m., then go back to sleep for a few hours.
Take a 3-hour lunch break and then work until midnight.
Get into a rhythm of working for 45 minutes, followed by a 20-minute power nap.

By throwing out the standard schedule, you might actually find yourself focusing better when you’re not forcing it.

Use Audio Disruption

This might sound counterintuitive, but silence isn’t always your friend when you’re trying to keep your head in the game. In fact, too much quiet can make you hyper-aware of small distractions, like the ticking of a clock or a neighbor’s dog barking. If silence is messing with your concentration, try introducing controlled noise into your environment.

Forget the usual "calming background music" stuff. Go for something jarring or unpredictable to keep your brain from drifting into autopilot.

Listen to a podcast in a foreign language while working on tasks that don’t require too much thought.
Put on intense music genres like heavy metal or techno, and crank it up.
Use ambient noise apps that create chaotic soundscapes, like the sound of a busy café mixed with thunderstorms.

This kind of audio disruption keeps your brain from getting too comfortable, which can surprisingly get you going.

Make Your Workspace Uncomfortable

The idea that you need to be comfortable to work well is flawed. Comfort can sometimes lead to laziness, both physically and mentally. Instead, try making your workspace a little less cozy. You’re not looking to be in pain, but you are aiming to keep your body and mind awake and alert.

Think of it as reverse ergonomics - using discomfort as a tool to keep you sharp.

Sit on a stool or use a standing desk without an anti-fatigue mat.
Work in a room that’s a little too cold, so you have to stay alert.
Use a hard chair instead of a cushioned one to keep you from sinking in.

By keeping your body slightly uncomfortable, you’ll find it harder to zone out and easier to stay engaged with what you’re doing.

Time Your Breaks with a Game

Breaks are important, but how you take them matters. Instead of just walking away from your desk aimlessly or scrolling through your phone, turn your breaks into a mental reset game. The key here is to add an element of unpredictability and engagement, rather than just stepping away for the sake of it.

Use short, mentally stimulating games or tasks to break up your day and keep your brain from slipping into boredom.

Do a 5-minute plank or 50 pushups during each break.
Try memorizing a random sequence of numbers and recite it before sitting back down.
Challenge yourself to solve a Rubik’s Cube or another puzzle as fast as you can.

Turning your breaks into these micro-challenges gives you something to look forward to and snaps you out of work mode, so you return to your tasks refreshed but not sluggish.

Work Barefoot, or With Weird Clothes

What you wear (or don’t wear) can affect your mental state more than you think. Most people are used to the idea that dressing “professionally” will help them feel like they’re in work mode. But at home, where no one can see you, the opposite might work better.

Going barefoot, for example, keeps you grounded - literally. It feels different and makes your body more aware of its movements, which can help you stay sharp. Similarly, wearing clothes you’d never wear to an office might boost creativity or help you settle into a different mindset.

Work barefoot, even if you’re at a desk. Feel the floor beneath you.
Wear something totally unexpected, like a bathrobe, workout gear, or even pajamas.
Create a “work uniform” that has nothing to do with traditional business clothes.

The idea is to break the usual association between formal clothes and productivity, and instead, wear what makes you feel grounded, even if it’s unconventional.

Rearrange Your Workspace Weekly

Stagnation kills creativity. If your workspace hasn’t changed in months, that could be part of the problem. A static environment leads to a static mind. Instead, keep your space dynamic by rearranging it regularly.

Don’t settle into one configuration for too long. A fresh setup forces your brain to adapt and keeps things interesting. Even if the change is small, it can have a noticeable impact on your focus.

Move your desk to face a different direction.
Swap out the objects on your desk - put away your usual coffee mug and replace it with something new.
Add a completely random object to your workspace, like a plant you’ve never cared for or an unusual piece of décor.

The constant change stops your mind from getting too comfortable and keeps you alert without even realizing it.

Try Working While Lying Down

Who said you need to sit or stand to get work done? If you’re struggling to stay on track, flipping the script completely by working while lying down can jolt your brain out of its rut. While this might sound ridiculous, it forces you to break from the norm and might even spark some new creativity.

Find ways to make lying down functional, so you’re not tempted to just fall asleep.

Lie down on the floor with your laptop propped up on your legs or a pillow.
Work from your bed, but in a position you wouldn’t usually sleep in.
Use your couch in a way that makes it more of a flat surface, rather than just a comfy spot to sit.

This shift in physical positioning forces your brain to see your work environment differently, making it harder to slip into distraction.

Set Ridiculously Small Timers

Deadlines help, but if you’re working alone and have long, open-ended projects, you may struggle to feel the pressure. To fix this, play mind games with yourself by setting absurdly short timers. These timers aren’t meant to reflect the real time needed for tasks - they’re just a way to trick your brain into getting started.

You’d be amazed how much you can get done when you convince yourself to work against a ticking clock, even if the time limit is artificial.

Set a 5-minute timer and challenge yourself to finish a task that usually takes 30 minutes.
Work for exactly 12 minutes, then take a 3-minute break, and repeat.
Use a random number generator to decide how long you’ll work before your next break.

Short, random bursts of productivity are a great way to overcome procrastination and get focused fast.

Use Snacks as Currency

Sometimes, the promise of a treat can be the perfect motivation. Instead of mindlessly snacking throughout the day, make snacks something you have to work for. Use food as a reward system, where each completed task unlocks a snack or drink.

This turns your hunger into a motivator, pushing you to concentrate until you’ve earned your treat.

Have a small snack every time you finish a task, but only after it’s done.
Only allow yourself to take sips of your coffee or tea when you’ve made tangible progress.
Keep a snack you love at your desk, but only eat it in tiny amounts after completing something.

The act of working toward a physical reward, even something as small as a snack, keeps your brain on task.