Home living while working from home: Tips to work from home without increasing clutter

by Pierre C. Rumpf 04/28/2025

We’ve all gone over most of the regular work from home tips, such as taking breaks, setting the correct work hours, maintaining a morning routine, etc. But occasionally, we’re left wondering how to keep a work-life balance while staying on top of home life, home maintenance, video call schedules and keeping the mess to a minimum.

Here are a few simple life hacks for maintaining an efficient, clutter-free personal life while working remotely:

Keep it organized

Just as you have working hours, your working utensils should also have hours of operations. For example, if you have a notebook or laptop that you normally keep out for quick notes or impromptu meetings, be sure to pack them up at the end of your meeting schedules or day.

Keeping things put away during nonworking hours is an excellent way to keep the clutter down while setting clear expectations for both you and your household.

If you don’t have a bag or place to keep your work items, try a small cubby in your home office or work area. This can either be a 4×4 cubed space, or a custom piece built during a weekend DIY project. Just make sure the space isn’t too small, or it could have the opposite effect.

Get a few breaks in

It’s imperative to take breaks while working from home because of how easy it is to get sucked into your work. Your environment is familiar, you’re focused and ready to tackle your day. However, once in that cycle, it’s often difficult to break out of it.

Set constant reminders for yourself to take a break. If you don’t think you’ll be able to pull yourself away from your work, try adding a task list to that break. For example, take a fifteen-minute break and get some fresh air. While you’re outside, try tidying a cluttered garden nook or sweep away any dead foliage or debris from your doorstep.

Keeping a short task list of things to be done around the house can force you to give your mind a breather while keeping your weekend chore load light. It’s also a fantastic way to keep clutter down.

Maintain a routine

Keeping the same routine is a great way to figure out exactly what you need throughout your day. You’ll know which dishes you need to keep at the forefront, wash times for your dish load, space needed for your work items and items used during your lunch break and a host of other conveniences to keep your day running smoothly.

You may also be able to keep your schedule’s clutter down by making phone calls for home repairs or maintenance that may have been overlooked after working hours have concluded. After all, once work is done, many don’t want to turn immediately to their to-do list after a hectic day.

These are just a few work from home tips to keep your home free of clutter while you stay productive. Try incorporating other chores into your daily work routine and break schedule to find out what other home duties you can accomplish without scheduling extra time to do them.

About the Author
Author

Pierre C. Rumpf

Broker Profile: Pierre comes from a diverse background. His adolescent and early adult years found him working for his father, a renowned structural engineer, and his brother, an architectural designer and general contractor. His knowledge of construction design (architectural & structural) and practices is significant. He coupled his construction background with his considerable sales experience, by becoming licensed to sell real estate in Massachusetts in 1986.

Pierre is also a licensed Attorney in the Commonwealth, who formerly worked for the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office as a litigator in the Victim & Witness Assistance Division of the Family & Community Crimes Bureau, litigating cases involving victims of violent crime, and since then has had his own legal practice.

For decades, Pierre has excelled in helping buyers of real estate find that condo, single-family, multi-family, lot of lands, or commercial property they desire to buy, or by effectively marketing his clients’ properties to sell their property for the most amount of money possible. His professional background embodies the ideal combination of construction, sales, negotiating, and contract drafting, which is essential to actualizing his clients’ goals and/or dreams. He does all of this with attention to detail, integrity, and success.

Since 1995, PCR Realty has helped buyers and sellers make their transactions as successful as possible. Using a consultative approach, PCR Realty approaches each experience as a unique opportunity for its clients. As a full-service real estate brokerage firm, PCR Realty provides leading-edge services for buyers & sellers.

When it comes to successfully navigating today’s complex real estate market, you need to work with someone who has the experience and commitment to see it done right. PCR Realty excels at matching buyers to sellers. From state-of-the-art marketing to an experienced broker, PCR Realty works diligently to far exceed your expectations. PCR Realty invites you to learn more.