Thuiswerken | handige tips en tricks

Everyone is familiar with the phenomenon 'working from home', but how do you make sure your home workspace meets your needs and keeps you focused? In this blog you will find tips and tricks to create the perfect home office.


Seeing each other every day on the work floor, getting a cup of coffee from the coffee machine with your colleague, catching up on the weekend plans. Whether you work at home, at the office or a combination of both, how do you stay focused? As a home worker you can get distracted easily, especially when that one message comes in, the phone keeps ringing or a family member comes to ask you something. We give you six tips to improve your concentration at home.


1. Create a nice and quiet workplace

If you work at home, it is important to create a workplace. A private room works best, but not everyone has this option. Still, besides your own room, a good desk is the most important thing. But what is a good desk? Make sure that the model of the desk suits you and the room. Do you prefer to work at a large desk? No problem. Do you notice that you are easily distracted by the (unnecessary) things you put on your desk? Then choose a smaller desk. As well as having your own space and a suitable desk, a well-organised environment gives a better overview and reduces distractions. Before you start your working day, clean up everything so that you can start the day fresh. Many home workers don't live alone, maybe you don’t live alone too. Having more than one person at home can cause disruption. Make arrangements with each other to avoid being disturbed.

2. Plan appointments directly in your agenda

To keep an overview, it is good to plan appointments directly in your agenda. Do you use a paper agenda? Then consider using a digital agenda. With a digital agenda, colleagues can easily invite you for a meeting. With a few clicks you have this meeting in your agenda. Super useful!

3. Plan time for unplanned tasks and make a to-do list

Sometimes a request or assignment comes your way that you didn't take into account, but has a deadline attached. You can solve this by planning at least one hour every day in your agenda for dealing with unplanned tasks. This will help you to avoid stress and not to mess up your entire planning. In addition, a to-do book helps you to keep the overview and to complete tasks.

4. Turn off unnecessary notifications

Whether you work at home or not, notifications never go away. However, you can make sure that you aren't distracted by them so easily. To do this, you need to turn off the 'unnecessary' notifications, such as chat messages or e-mails that come in. If it's urgent, they will give you a call. That one e-mail or message can wait.

5. Check your mail at scheduled times

Many people have the urge to check their e-mail all the time. The moment you do, you lose focus on what you are doing. So, check and answer your e-mails at scheduled times. For example, start the day with some important tasks that need to be done, then read and answer the mails in your mailbox around 11:00. You can repeat this later in the day, so that you can answer your sent mails and process any new ones.

6. Take short breaks

To maintain focus and concentration, it is important to take short breaks. For example, go get something to drink, catch up with a family member or go for a walk.


Some people work more at home than others. You are in control of whether you are comfortable working at home or not. If there is something you are struggling with, always contact your supervisor and discuss the matter with him.