In these unprecedented times, it will be an adjustment for all of us to start working remotely over the course of the next few weeks. As someone who works remotely most of the time, I wanted to put together some tips that have helped me stay efficient and focused during my time working from home. I hope you find something useful from this

• Create a morning routine: Whether that’s a workout, eating a balanced breakfast or a quick 10-minute meditation, creating a routine helps you focus your mind.

• I personally listen to podcasts on my drive into work. Use that morning “commute” time and try to stick to as much of your normal routine as possible. Listening to a podcast while I cook my breakfast helps me stay in usual day to day routine even when I’m not in a car

• Before opening your inbox, create a list of goals for yourself. I like to separate mine into goals for the day, week and month. This helps me prioritize my work but also gives me a physical list that I can refer to when I speak with my manager about what I am working on, both short term and long-term goals

• Speaking of managers- set a weekly one hour one on one call with you manager. Keeping in touch helps keep you focused and organized, and it gives you an opportunity to speak out loud what you have been working on. When I go over my list with my manager, I realize what I could be working more on and what I’ve completed.

• Take breaks- The most difficult part of working from home is sitting in one place all day. Set time aside for lunch and an afternoon stretch.

• Set hours for yourself- When I work from home, I like to stick to a 9–5 routine. This way I’m focused during the hours I’ve set for working and I am able to be mentally prepared to stop and take time for myself at 5PM

• Finally- clean up and set up your work area before and after each day. Setting up your space in the morning will help set your mind into a routine and cleaning up with allow you to physically disconnect from work

I hope these tips help with the transition to working from home. Stay safe and take care of your health and your loved ones.

Originally published on https://blogs.vmware.com/code/2020/03/16/working-from-home-tips-from-a-remote-worker/