“I work remote” has quickly become a buzz phrase in our everyday vernacular. Whether our virtual lifestyles are due to social distancing in response to COVID-19 or simply the ever-changing nature of work, adjustments to our daily routines and workplaces have been unavoidable. 

Working remotely has its challenges, so why not make things a little easier? We have compiled some of our favorite tips & tricks from experts on telecommuting to help us through this time of extreme uncertainty. 

1. First things first, let’s change our mindset about “working remote.”

Telecommuting is nothing new, but it is growing to be the new normal. According to Zippia, 30 percent of the workforce will either be freelance, outsourced, or remote workers by the end of this year. Because this concept has recently seen a huge surge given today’s climate, it’s important for us to change our mindset on what it’s like to work from home—just because you’ve swapped out your work desk for your kitchen table doesn’t mean you won’t be as productive as you would be in the office.

Zippia also outlined several benefits for employers enabling their employees to work from home, including improved employee retention, access to a wider pool of applicants, and more autonomous employees. Finding the positives when it comes to remote work can greatly increase the experience for yourself and the people you work with. 

2. Establish a new routine.

One of the many benefits of living where you work is there is no need for a commute. Anyone that has switched from being in-office to at-home has seen anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple hours added to their day. With all this extra time, it can be easy to lose sight of how to balance time between your work and personal life.  

Randstad says getting into an optimal routine starts from planning out your mornings, even if you are a night owl. Routines are shown to help reduce mental fatigue and make you happier and more productive, which is why it’s important to start your day off scheduled. The tips from Randstad encourage people to wake up around the same time everyday, exercise, don’t check email until you have started work, do something that breaks up waking up and starting work, then map out your day. Mapping out your day includes setting strict parameters for yourself. Choose what your work hours are going to be, plan purposeful breaks so you aren’t zoning out to the TV or social media, add to your calendar to add structure to your tasks, and communicate with your team about when and what you are working on.

With more time in your day, also consider adding activities to keep you motivated and stimulated. Find ways to plan breaks in between meetings. Take a walk, grab lunch, call a friend, or simply give your eyes a rest from the blue light. Continue to socialize and move your body, and focus on maintaining a healthy mental and physical wellbeing. At the end of the day, we need to take care of ourselves, and routine helps us do just that. 

3. Invest in your tools.

Investing in your tools mostly applies to company and team leaders, but it’s important for you to recognize what you personally need to successfully work as well. 

Companies should do everything they can to ensure team members can stay connected and work efficiently. Luckily for us, many of our tools are already accessible from the comfort of our homes. Here are cred, we love using tools like Slack, Hangouts, Zoom, Google Drive, and Dropbox.  This allows all of us to message and video chat to quickly solve problems or catch up with employees from other states (and now other living rooms!), and helps us collaborate on projects to ensure we are working together even though we can’t be together. 

On the other hand, each of us works differently. What tools we need to do our jobs greatly depends on our own personal workstyles. Give yourself a week or two to adjust, but be honest with yourself and your managers. It never hurts to ask if there is a budget for an at-home monitor if you are working at home more permanently, or see if your teammates want to try out a new platform to stay better connected. 

4. Make it fun.

Being at home all day really can have a negative impact on our mental health. Remember these are hard times for many, so it’s okay to have some fun while working from home. One way we at cred have stayed connected is by asking a question of the day over Slack, and conducting team happy hours over Zoom. Bring some variety to your gatherings by hosting a virtual trivia game-themed happy hour with costumes and drinks of many colors. This has helped us all relax and enjoy this unique experience. 

While the shift to working remotely is a unique experience across the board, there are ways to make it enjoyable as an individual and as a team. Consider working from home a puzzle you can solve. There is an end result that is satisfying and worth figuring out because, at the end of the day, telecommuting works best when it works for you.