It is no secret most of us are still trying to process the current global situation. While many can adapt to change and have a plan of action in motion quickly, others may struggle in finding a balance — and that’s okay, too.

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By now, most nonessential businesses across the nation have either temporarily closed their offices and/or implemented a remote schedule, forcing lots of people to start working from home over the next few weeks. As someone who worked from home for a little more than a year, the lifestyle shift can be a little stressful — especially for parents and even more so now that children are out of school — so I thought it would be fitting to share some personal tips that helped make the best use of my time and increased my productivity while working from home.

Some of you might be prepared for a shift like this, but this isn’t the case for everyone. I particularly find these tips most helpful for those who do not have a home office. Again, these are my personal tips/thoughts because they worked for me:

1.     Create daily checklists: Keeping these short and realistic helped me feel organized and in control of my time. I prefer to add to the list as the day progresses instead of overwhelming myself with a long list at the start of the day.
2.      If you don’t have a desk, designate a clean space to work from. Your couch or your bed, while comfy, aren’t the most productive places.
3.     Shower and get ready as if you were going to your actual place of work. I’m not saying you should wear your office clothes at home, but your favorite pjs might not flip the productivity switch. I love wearing workout clothes when working from home as I feel motivated in them.
4.     Assign specific times to your tasks — i.e. 9–9:30 a.m. inbox cleanup/respond to emails received after end of business day, etc.
5.     Work in intervals. Sitting in front of your computer for eight hours straight isn’t productive. Dedicate 30 minutes to each task and take a brief stretch (or dance) break in between.
6.     TAKE A LUNCH BREAK — one away from your work space. If you can, eat outside and enjoy the sun.
7.     Drink lots of water and make sure to stay hydrated.
8.     If being alone for long periods of time is hard for you, set up video calls with friends and family or a group chat with those you know are also working from home.
9.     Make sure to move your body — take advantage of the many fitness instructors who started doing live workout videos on Instagram and Facebook. If you’re not big on social media, there are thousands of workout videos on YouTube; and if you prefer something less active, a 30–45-minute walk will do the trick!
10.  Be nice to yourself — it can be easy to feel as if you haven’t gotten much done simply because you’re home. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and change takes time. Be gentle, compassionate and understanding of yourself and others.

I didn’t list these in any particular order, so implement them as you please. I usually do Nos. 1, 2 and 4 the day prior to avoid feeling rushed in the morning.

I hope these are helpful to you. Remember to smile and find joy in everything during this difficult time!

Until next time …

— Yasser Ogando, production & advertising coordinator