Even before COVID-19 coronavirus disrupted the planet, remote work had gone from that rare unicorn of workforce arrangements to a standard component of many people's workweek. Here are a few tips to help you adjust.

Tip 1: Choose a dedicated workspace that is safe, ergonomic & officelike. Choose a dedicated workspace away from family (don’t worry, they know you still love them), pets (unless they’re lazy floor pups or meow meows) & distractions. To mentally focus, you need a physical “separation” from your non-work life. Having a designated work space not only helps you concentrate and build your mental state to work more efficiently, but when you are in that space, both you and your family know you are working and need to focus.

Tip 2: Organize your day. You can do this by making a plan, schedule & checklist. An app we love to use is Evernote! Evernote is a great tool to help centralize all you tasks, notes and to-do lists, so nothing gets forgotten. The app can be found on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Tip 3: Protect your organization including devices, documents & information. If you live with a roommate or young children, be sure to lock your computer even when you step away for just a bit. Don’t tempt your roommates or family members by leaving your work open. This is true even for the workplace, so it is imperative for working from home.

Tip 4: Have frequent online interactions with colleagues, customers & partners. The ability to communicate well is a top skill. A lot can be lost in translation when you’re working from home. People need to continue to be in touch with you and know what you’re working on so there is no overlap or things (or people) being forgotten about. There are many communication tools out there for video conferencing such as Google Hangouts (our fav), Zoom & GoToMeeting.

Tip 5: Take proper breaks such as going for a walk, work out or simple stretching throughout the day. Not going to the office means you aren’ t getting the exercise that you would typically get from walking from the parking lot to your desk, walking from your desk to your colleagues desk, trips to the restroom (which always seems like it’s a million miles away when you have to go NOW). Take some time before work to walk around outside in the fresh air. Sit on your porch with a cup of coffee or take a quick walk to get that fresh crisp morning air intake. Break for lunch, get out and check the mail or take the pups for a walk. Try to fit activity into your work hours one way or another - not that you shouldn’t be exercising in your home life already.

When you create a healthy routine, an effective place to work, and use technology to get work done and also maintain relationships, you’ll be more productive and feel good while doing it.