Recently, President Trump announced social distancing will continue until April 30th. Because of this, the new normal for employees is working from home. For many, this sets forth a stressful experiment. Living rooms have turned into conference rooms and kitchen tables have turned into personal work spaces. With another month working virtually, here are essential tips for working from home during COVID-19.

Dress for the job

It might seem impossible to slip out of pajamas and into a silk blouse, but this step is crucial. The simple act of changing serves as a signal that the work day has begun. By blending in your blush or tightening your tie, your attitude towards working from home will be more positive if you follow a similar routine when headed to the office. It isn’t cliche to look good and feel good even when social distancing on the job.

Clearly define your work hours

The couch you choose to constantly binge Netflix on may have turned into your designated workspace. Because of this, you must be clear about when you are on and off the clock. Create a clear schedule that highlights your daily work routine. You are in charge of your environment so craft your work schedule around hours that are best suited for productivity. And when 5:00 pm strikes, turn on another episode of Grey’s Anatomy and relax. The work day is over and it’s time to disconnect.

Keep in touch

Unfortunately, social distancing has canceled your daily coffee run or lunch break with your work best friend. However, it is still important to stay connected to co-workers even when working from home. Communication is essential to successful teamwork. Take time out of your day to stay in contact and check the progress of your team. Enjoy your coffee run virtually as an attempt to catch up with others in a video group conference. Schedule team activities online such as a monthly book club. The key to working from home is frequent check-ins.

Working from home is a new challenge in today’s world. Use these tips in order to ease the process. For even more essential information, click here to read how you can continue to stay engaged in a virtual working world.