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While the world is dealing with the outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus), you may find yourself working remotely for the first time or working remotely more than usual. Not to worry, the 12 tips below will help you stay on track, work effectively and maintain a sense of normalcy in these uncertain times.

Maintain Regular Work Hours

Maintaining your regular nine-to-five schedule will make things feel normal, help you stay on top of tasks, keep you from overworking and help you maintain a work-life balance.

Schedule Regular Breaks

Give yourself some time away from computers and phones throughout the day. Much like when you’re in the office, an hour lunch break and two fifteen-minute breaks will do you some good and help you stay productive.

Keep a Dedicated Office Space

If you don’t have a home office, dedicate some space at a desk, or even the kitchen table, for your work area. This will help you separate work time from personal time. You can also change your scenery, work outside and get some fresh air.

Create a Morning Routine

Creating a morning routine or before-work routine can help you get the day started. It can be anything from having a cup of coffee, stretching and meditating, or listening to your favorite genre of music.

Use a VPN

When working from a network you don’t control, it’s best to use a VPN for safety reasons. Make sure you have access to your company’s VPN so you can securely access internal websites and servers.

Look for Training Opportunities

When your workload is a little light, looking for training opportunities is the perfect task to fill time. This can range from online courses to one-on-one training with a colleague or manager.

Overcommunicate

When working remotely it’s important to let people know that you’re working and what you’re working on. Respond promptly to emails and messages. Communicate your daily availability and schedule and when you wrap up a project or task.

Take Breaks in their Entirety

Use the full amount of your breaks just as you would if you were in an office. If you’re allotted an hour for lunch, take an hour for lunch. You can use an on-screen clock or a timer to track your break time.

Socialize with your Colleagues

Working remotely can spark feelings of loneliness and disconnection. It’s okay to reach out to your colleagues and discuss things that aren’t work-related. It could be anything from the weather to recipe ideas for dinner. Anything to give you a sense of human interaction.

Set a Time for Household Chores

As tempting as it may be, your time working from home should not be spent completing household chores. Doing chores randomly throughout the day can be distracting. Instead, maybe add chores to your before-work or after-work routine.

Be Positive

When working from home, chances are you’re mostly communicating with your colleagues digitally, which means you can’t hear voices or tones. Be cognizant of this when writing emails or chat messages. Do your best to ensure what you say reflects a tone of positivity so that nothing is misunderstood.

End Your Day with a Routine

Similar to starting your day with a routine, ending your day with a routine is just as important. Choose one thing that’ll signify the end of your workday and the start of your personal time.

Provided by: Stewart Title and Andrea Davis CRE