As the coronavirus spreads, more people are telecommuting in an effort to stop the virus. If you’ve had little or no experience telecommuting, here are some helpful tips for working remotely.

Make Sure You Have the Technology

First, make sure you have what it takes to work from home. Do you have a reliable laptop or desk top computer? What about WiFi? Make sure you have the necessary software as well. As NPR notes, “Lots of remote workers are leaning heavily on Slack, Microsoft Teams, Skype, Zoom or GoToMeeting. Iron out what your team is planning to use ASAP.”

Then do a dry run to make sure everything works correctly. Check with your IT department to make sure you are set up and ready to go.

Set a Schedule

Second, set a schedule and hold to it. When my mom was homeschooling my sisters and me, she set a schedule and stuck to it. We’d have to be at our desks by 8:30 ready to say the Pledge of Allegiance. We had breaks at set times and lunch at noon. The same idea applies here. Set a schedule that you can realistically stick to. 

Build regular breaks in your schedule so you’ll know when to rest. And don’t forget to sleep! “If my sleep schedule gets out of whack, it’s hard to make myself get out of bed — and it’s even harder when you don’t have to physically go into an office,” Kimber Streams, an editor at Wirecutter, told The New York Times.

“If I’m tired, it’s harder to do my job. And if I can’t do my job, then I feel guilty outside of work hours, my work / life boundaries melt and the delicate balance unravels. Burnout. If I keep a strict schedule, including sleep, it helps me better manage.” A schedule can also help minimize distractions.

Keep Distractions to a Minimum

Third, maintain the discipline and motivation needed to work at home, according to Indeed. Reduce distractions, such as household chores or kids running around. Or if you have ADD (like me!) it’s important to structure your environment in a way that helps you be productive.

For example, create an office space. If you are lucky enough to have an actual office, great. You can shut the door to keep distractions at bay. If you don’t, create a space in an extra bedroom or even a corner in your home where you can focus on your work, make phone calls and keep work documents. Let others know that is your dedicated work space and that while you are there you cannot be bothered unless it’s an emergency.

Communication is Key

Fourth, communicate a lot. Whether it’s checking in with your boss or chatting with co-workers, communication is even more important when working at home, for two reasons. One, you need realistic expectations of what can be done from home. Set doable goals with the oversight of your boss. Talk with him or her about what needs to be done, how you will track progress, and how you will report back to the company. Find out when your company schedules meetings and use Skype or Zoom to join in.

Two, you may battle loneliness or feelings of isolation when working away from the office. Working from home can be lonely. “One undeniable loss is the social, casual ‘water cooler’ conversation that connects us to people — if you’re not used to that loss, full-time remote work can feel isolating.”

Marisa Bell-Metereau of Moneycrashers.com suggests connecting with others during the week. “For some, that’s as simple as making lunch plans a few days a week or working from a coffee shop or the public library instead of at home. You can even run errands on your lunch hour so you get out of the house and see other people during the day.”

Be Happy!

You get to work from home — not everyone can. Appreciate the time you have to work around your family, enjoy the flexibility your job allows and focus on being content in all things.

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances — Philippians 4:11

Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream. You can follow her @NancyFlory3, and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.