HAVE A DEDICATED WORKSPACETraditionally, our homes are our hideaways and escape from work. Now that you are working from home, it may be tempting to work from your bed, but it is important to designate a space for work. While it is ideal to have a home office not everyone has the space for it. it is enough to ensure that you have a place you’ve set apart as your workspace. This helps you frame your mind as you work and helps your family remember that while you might be at home, you are on the clock. Your workspace may just be confined to a table and a chair, but the idea is that once you leave that desk, then it’s home time. This creates the difference between working from home and just being at home.

STRUCTURE YOUR DAYWhether you’re a freelancer or a contact-center agent, remember to structure your day. Those just beginning to work from home find that not leaving their workspace and powering through work leads to burnout. This where structuring your day comes into play. Routine might sound daunting or boring, but just like having a dedicated workspace to create boundaries and help you focus yourself, routine helps maximize your work time and not have it bleed over your home time. Structuring your day does not mean necessarily planning every single minute of every day (unless that’s something that would work for you). It’s more creating a before, during, and after working ritual. Take enjoying a cup of coffee or a scrumptious breakfast, for example, heralds the start of your day. During your shift, stepping away from your desk for your 15-minute breaks or cooking your lunch, give you a breather. While stretching or even tidying your desk can signal the end of the day. These small, almost inconsequential things help you break up your day. These rituals help our minds take a breather from work. Routine can be more powerful than a clock to get you focused, mark the start and end of your workday.

STAY CONNECTEDWhile work might all be virtual, it does not mean that we forgo building relationships with our teams. In fact, it is crucial that we stay connected. Isolating yourself from your team would only lead to disconnect and even loneliness. Different companies would have different ways to socialize, take this opportunity to stay connected. Allowing yourself to participate ensures that you are working on the same page with everyone else and reminds you that you are not alone. There are so many ways for us to connect, whether it be a Zoom meeting or a group chat, never be afraid to participate.

MOVEWhile the pandemic keeps us from climbing mountains and going on long trips, that doesn’t mean that we can’t go and stretch our legs. Movement increases our energy and calms the mind. It can be as simple as taking a walk in your backyard or going on a grocery run or even a 5-minute yoga routine. Our body needs to move. Let it.

REWARD YOURSELFRewards come in many different forms. It may be as simple as ordering your favorite milk tea or baking a cake or watching that Netflix show you’ve been dying to see. At the end of the day, we are not just here to toil our days away, we are here to enjoy our lives so take the time to take care of yourself. No matter how self-care looks for you, do it. Spend time with your family, cook a meal, buy new shoes. Reward yourself because you deserve it.

At the end of the day, it is important to figure out what works best for you. There will be days that you may lack motivation, it helps to remember why you’re working in the first place. You may be working to provide for your family or maybe saving up to finally buy your dream house. Whatever it maybe, let your passion lead you.