My WFH Routine: From Burnout to Better Focus in 6 Months

Three months into remote work, I was coding in my pajamas at 2 PM, stress-eating chips during standups, and ending most days feeling like I'd accomplished nothing despite being "online" for 10 hours. Sound familiar? The freedom of working from home can quickly turn into a productivity nightmare if you don't have systems in place. After burning out hard and having an honest conversation with my manager, I rebuilt my entire approach to remote work. Here's what actually moved the needle for me – not the Instagram-worthy morning routines, but the practical changes that improved both my code quality and my sanity. Create Physical Boundaries (Even in Small Spaces) The biggest mistake I made was thinking I could work from anywhere in my apartment. Kitchen table, couch, bed – wherever felt comfortable in the moment. This killed my ability to mentally "switch off" from work. I carved out a dedicated workspace, even though my apartment is tiny. It's just a corner of my bedroom with a desk and mo