Blog

Top 10 Tips for Working From Home 

Joshua Frisch • December 11, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has changed how we live and work. More people than ever before are working remotely, and many of those jobs will stay remote even after the pandemic is under control. Businesses are able to save on rent and utility costs by allowing employees to work from home, coffee shops and libraries, and they are finding that employees can be just as productive in doing so. Let’s take a look at some of the top tips for workers who find themselves working from home, commonly referred to as WFH, so that they remain as productive as possible.

Designate a Work from Home Workspace

When you begin working remotely, set up an area of your house that you can dedicate to getting your work done every day. Ideally, this is a separate room where you can have peace and quiet (more on that later). You should have a desk with enough space to spread out your computer and work materials, and the background should be appropriate and appealing for what others see behind you on video calls. Make sure you have an ergonomic chair, a solid internet connection, good lighting, and anything else you need to set you up for success.

Have a Morning Routine

Once you begin remote working, you will quickly find out that a set morning routine can help you in getting focused each and every day to be productive. Your morning routine should include the basics—showering, eating a good breakfast, and brushing your teeth. And although it may be tempting to work from home in your pajamas, it’s important to change into something a bit more professional. This helps you change your mindset into a productive one as well as makes you presentable for video calls. Have your coffee and tea ready to go and be at your desk by a certain time each morning. 

Set a Daily To-do List

Spend five minutes every morning creating a list of what you would like to accomplish that day. Schedule you morning and afternoon around getting those tasks done. This will give you a better sense of accomplishment at the end of the day. If you are really organized, you can block out your day by hour and activity to stay focused. 

Avoid Distractions

Avoiding distractions can be difficult when working from home—especially if you live with family members, friends or roommates who are around during the day. As mentioned earlier, try to designate a separate room as your workspace if possible, and let others in your home know that you are working between a set period of hours each day. Just because you are home doesn’t mean that you have time to hang out. It’s also important to remove online distractions such as social media, checking personal email, and reading the news. These are fine to do, but a quick break can quickly turn into wasted time. 

Take Breaks

Taking breaks periodically is crucial to a productive day. If you work constantly throughout the day, you will become fatigued and lose focus. Take breaks throughout the day to get lunch, take a walk, hit the gym, or play with your kids for a bit. Doing this breaks up the day and allows you to return to your work with a stronger focus.

Utilize Technology

With the internet, it is easier than ever before to work remotely. There are a ton of tools for video calling, working on documents collaboratively, and monitoring progress of team members. Take advantage of video calling services like Zoom and Skype, messenger apps like Slack, collaborative services like Google Docs, and good old-fashioned email. Technology tools can make your life much easier and ensure accountability among team members. 

Stay in Touch

Work from home doesn’t mean that you can just work alone. It’s important to stay in communication with others. This can include updating your boss on a daily basis so he or she knows what you are accomplishing or checking on employees you manage to ensure project milestones are being met. Even if you can get away with not talking to anyone else throughout the day and still getting your work done, you should make it a point to connect with others, whether it is co-workers, clients, or just friends. Doing so will help you break up the day and maintain a sense of normalcy. 

Be Smart About Communication

Working remotely means adjusting exactly how we communicate with others. While in an office it is easy to walk to someone’s office and have a face-to-face conversation, working from home makes it a bit trickier. If a colleague does not have time for a video call discussion, you might have to communicate via email, text or a messenger platform. This can be trickier, as these methods leave more room for misinterpreting a message when the person on the other end can’t pick up on tone of voice, body language, etc. Read through that fiery-worded email a few more times before deciding to hit send. 

Stay Accountable

Being a remote worker doesn’t mean being accountable for the work you do. Set a schedule every day and make sure you are accomplishing what you are being paid to do, whether you work for an employer or whether you have your own clients. Check in with your boss or clients on a regular basis to let them know what you are working on and ask any questions that you need to have answered. And if you are a manager, check in on your employees to make sure they are being held accountable for their work as well. 

Disconnect when Necessary

When you work from home, it can be easy to blur the work-life balance that is so important—especially if you do not have the luxury of a home office. If you work every day at the dining room table, try to have a set time when you shut off the computer to have dinner and spend time with your family. Most remote positions do not require around-the-clock attention, so make sure you are prioritizing your own health and well-being by unplugging at the appropriate time and relaxing a bit. 

 

The post Top 10 Tips for Working From Home  appeared first on CTeLearning.

Share To

Get in touch with us today!


You can book a demo directly using Calendly, call us directly at 913-764-4272 or 877-828-1216, or submit the form and we will reach out to you.


We look forward to helping you and your students.

students with STEM certifications

Most Recent Posts

Web Design Course and Certification Approved in Texas Through 2030

By Steve Waddell • August 7, 2025
Today we are taking a look at one of our most popular courses, Web Design . Schools all over the country have been using our Web Design course for years and showing students what an exciting career path web design can be. Thanks to Web Professionals Global , our association partner, students who complete the Web Design course can earn a professional web design certification, the Certified Web Designer (CWDSA) certification , that showcases their skills and aptitude in web design. One of the states where we see the most certifications being awarded is Texas. The CWDSA certification is on the 2025-2030 Industry-Based Certification (IBC) List for Public School Accountability, which is the official list of state-approved certifications. Maintained by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the purpose of the IBC list is to “identify certifications that prepare students for success in the workforce, military, or postsecondary education.” Every five years, there is an assessment process that determines whether certifications will be accepted for the list. Being on the list means that our schools know our courses and certifications meet rigorous state standards and are preparing students to excel in future educational and professional pursuits. We are proud to be certified by the TEA for the next five years and look forward to working with students and teachers in Texas for years to come. CWDSA Overview We at CTeLearning are not the providers of the certification. We develop curriculum, as our first priority, to help teachers prepare their students for careers. For many teachers, this includes helping students get an industry-based certification. So, in many of our courses, that means making sure our curriculum helps students build not only their knowledge and portfolio but also the broad industry and technical skills needed to earn an industry-based certification. In this case, our curriculum aligns with what a student must know to get The Certified Web Designer Associate (CWDSA) certification. The examination measures more than just the essential competencies for aspiring or practicing Web Designers. The examinee must demonstrate working knowledge of Internet basics, HTML including HTML5, CSS3 and WYSIWYG editors, Web graphics, Web audio and video, Web site design, Web site management, and basic legal issues at the standard defined by this test specification. The skills and knowledge measured by this examination are derived from an industry-wide and worldwide job task analysis which was validated through a survey of hundreds of designers. The results of the survey were used in weighting the domains and ensuring that the weighting is representative of the relative importance of that content to the job requirements of a Certified Web Designer Associate. The intent is to certify individuals in a body of knowledge that is identified and accepted as the baseline or foundation of any Web Designer. Web Design as a Career If you are considering what to teach or coaching your students about future career options and pathways, web design can be a great choice. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 8% growth in employment for web developers and digital interface designers from 2023 to 2033—faster than the average for all jobs. Demand is strong and still rising as more businesses move online and prioritize digital experiences. Web developers earned a median annual salary of $90,930 in May 2024, showing that this field doesn’t just offer creative freedom—it pays well too. Design matters more than ever. Around 65% of all website traffic comes from mobile devices, making a mobile-first approach essential. Plus, 94% of businesses say website design impacts their impression of a brand, and 42% of users will leave a site if it’s hard to use. To stand out, a strong portfolio is your best tool—it shows what you can do. But industry-recognized certifications can boost your credibility, especially if you’re just starting out or want to specialize. In this pathway, whether you're freelancing, joining a design agency, or building your own brand, the web design world is full of opportunity. Just keep learning, stay creative, and always design with the user in mind. Reach Out Today If you are a teacher or administrator interested in our Web Design course and certification, reach out to us today. Our free 20-minute demo can show you the value for you and your students.

Taking a Look at Our Work in Research

By Steve Waddell • July 20, 2025
Today we are highlighting an aspect of CTeLearning that many of our clients may not know about: research projects. Although much of our work is focused on providing curriculum to middle schools and high schools, we also work with universities and research groups to support research projects. We recently completed a project with Dr. Jessica Morales-Chicas and Dr. Mauricio Castillo of California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA). We have partnered with Dr. Morales-Chicas and Dr. Castillo for years and this project was yet another successful collaboration. Project Overview This project revolved around a research study focused on culturally responsive education. Five focus groups guided youth in reflecting on their identities and imagining culturally responsive mobile apps to support this endeavor. The team at CTeLearning provided the code and curriculum that made it possible for the participants of the study to build their mobile apps. This development work was done on a custom basis for this specific CSULA research project. Participants in the project conceptualized culture in different ways including traditions, customs, language, beliefs and more. All of these factors shaped the culturally responsive coding curriculum. Q&A with Steve We caught up with CTeLearning founder and lead developer Steve Waddell to discuss his team’s experience working on the project. What was the experience like working with CSULA? We have been working with CSULA since 2006. Primarily we have worked with their College of Engineering, Computer Science & Technology, Department of Education, and with their work with local STEM programs. What challenges did the team encounter in building the curriculum? How did the team overcome those challenges? This is much of what we normally do. As curriculum developers we are always looking for ways to engage the learner and get them to viscerally care about the project they are working on. That is just good project-based learning design. What we loved about working with the CSULA team was the chance to add a cultural twist to what we naturally do and to then see how that enhanced the engagement. Increased engagement means increased learning. How rewarding is it to see a completed research project and know CTeLearning played a role in its success? I loved the pride the kids had for where they and their families came from, and how they recognized their values of the importance of family came through so clearly. It was very cool seeing how proud they all were that they had built a mobile-ready app that they were sharing with their families and friends. So, that cultural pride was being shared with the people most important to them. How did CTeLearning get involved working with the research community? It started in 2007 when the state of Kansas asked us to save a WIRED project to develop a workforce training course for biotechnology that had stalled. This introduced us to the local biotechnology and life sciences community, and just a year later we were invited into projects with the regional stakeholders. Today we are working with researchers all over the US and doing projects on vaccine hesitancy, wellness, pediatric cancer, autism, urban health disparities, and more. We have even created projects that are active in Africa. Are there any other thoughts you would like to share? As developers creating courseware to teach careers and how to be successful in industry, I think it is important to have a foot in both worlds. Our work with industry and research keeps us grounded in what it takes to be successful in the work world, and gives us a bit of “street cred.” To learn more, click here for the full article that was published in the Computer Science Education journal in July 2025. If you are a researcher looking for assistance with your research project, reach out to us today.

Equipping the Next Generation With AI Skills

By Steve Waddell • May 1, 2025
Today we are highlighting one of our long-time partners, Dr. Maurico Castillo, and his students. Dr. Castillo teaches in the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology at California State University, Los Angeles and is an Advisor for Web Professionals Global , the professional association for all things web. This semester, Dr. Castillo has been teaching students at the Esteban Torres High School Engineering & Technology Academy. He is teaching CTeLearning’s AI for the Workplace course . 30 students worked their way through the course that teaches students how AI can be harnessed in the workplace, no matter what the future educational and career paths of the students may be. The course features the PromptScout tool, which helps students learn how various AI prompts can be used in a variety of professional settings to streamline work. The 5,360 prompts cover 63 different industries ranging from welding and business and cosmetology to agriculture. We caught up with Dr. Castillo to hear about his experience working with CTeLearning and teaching the course: “AI is here and is becoming a part of every career pathway. As CTE educators we must prepare learners for their future, and their future will include AI. AI will not replace people in their chosen pathways, but I see it helping to do more in less time. For example, people in a variety of career fields including welders, electricians, mechanics, solar techs, cosmetologists, web designers, and arborists are small business owners and entrepreneurs. As a welder, you have a craft that is high-paying and you may own your own business. AI can help you with many administrative tasks including digital marketing, customer service communications, and even safety reviews and codes review. AI is becoming the new career literacy. Every student needs to learn about how AI is a valuable tool and not something we should be afraid of. I was the first to deploy this course in CA. I took the opportunity with a class at a local high school that had 30 students. As a member of the advisory committee of Web Professionals Global, I got to see much of the early development of the microcredential and its supporting curriculum. So, when I had the chance to give it a test drive, I could not resist. I am a professor, and so like all professor types I am passionate about learning and can talk forever on any topic I love. I am excited for you to hear from the first class of certificate earners.” Hear From the Students Let’s hear from Dr. Castillo’s students about how they liked the course.  “What I liked about the CTelearning course is that it made you learn ways you can work with AI without letting the AI control your work. It helps you understand how to make the AI work with you and what you want to create. I also like the scenarios because it helps us get an experience of what it's like to use AI to help which work. ” –Veronica Perez “To learn about AI is a great thing considering that’s what is increasing in this economy. I feel like this program is doing a good thing teaching us high school students how to use it. Learning AI can help us in the future as we can find a path in an AI-based career or even in common life situations. I’m very glad to be able to have this opportunity as I see this as something very useful for my future.” –Josie Beltran “There were many things that I enjoyed about the AI in the Workplace course. Before this, I was always skeptical about AI, and even considered myself a hater. When I started reading the modules, I really enjoyed the new information I was learning about AI and how helpful it can be in work life, but also in real life. I also liked how there were sections in the modules that showed the dangers and cons for AI. A lot of people who are passionate about something seem to only show the bright side of it, but I really liked that the course didn’t show any bias and showed how AI can be bad as well. Another reason why I liked this was because it taught me new ways to use AI and all the capabilities it has.” –Derrek Aparicio “The program was very helpful because it helps you learn completely different things and can help prepare you for the future.” –Jesse Mendez “What I like about the program is the attention to detail throughout the course. Each action is divided into different topics, making it more accessible to users.” –Emely Perez “What I liked about the program we took was the scenarios. They allow me to see situations where I could use AI in real life. The situations were mainly in work environments, where I could really use AI to help me in situations.” –Abel Gonzales Your School Could Be Next Contact us today at hello@ctelearning.com or 877-828-1216 to schedule your free 20-minute demo. One of our team members will show you how you can bring this innovative AI curriculum into your classroom and prepare your students for success.