Productivity Hacks for Working From Home That Don't Involve Your Screen

15. End Every Workday with a Handwritten Shut-Down Ritual

The transition from work to home can be blurry—especially without a commute. Create a comforting end-of-day ritual: Handwrite the top three things you want to tackle tomorrow on a notepad or sticky note. Physically closing your planner, turning off a lamp, or storing away your materials signals to your mind and body that the workday is complete.

16. Implement an Ambient Sound-Scent Association

Train your brain to associate a specific ambient soundscape and subtle scent exclusively with deep work. Use a noise machine or a streaming app for constant, non-verbal sound (e.g., distant coffee shop chatter or a steady rain loop). Simultaneously, diffuse a light, non-distracting scent like rosemary or citrus essential oil. The combination creates a consistent, customized sensory environment that blocks unpredictable home noises and, through Pavlovian conditioning, becomes a powerful, immediate trigger for focused concentration.