So how is working from home going for you? If you’re like me, the new normal of staying inside all day, every day is both a dream come true (No long commute! More time with my wife!) and vaguely upsetting (How many days has it been? Do we have enough coffee to make it through?).

At the very least, it raises some good questions. How can you stay productive when you’re not in the office? How do you maintain that all-important balance between work and life? Who’s making the coffee this morning?

We may not have all the answers, but we’re here to help you with staying productive and making the most of your quality time at home.

1. Maintain Your Daily Routine
   We all have habits we do every work day. Waking up when you usually do, taking a shower and getting dressed in clothes you didn’t wear yesterday are all simple acts that can ground you in your routine and set you up for a good day at work.
2. Recycle Your Commute Time
   Your daily commute is not going to be a factor for now, which leaves you with some time in your morning. Use that to connect with your family, read a book, listen to a podcast (here’s a recommendation), or simply relax before you officially start your day.
3. Establish Your Workspace
   It’s important to have a space in your home where you know when you’re there, you’re working. This puts you into a naturally productive mindset, and also tells others around you that you are working, even if you’re sitting only 10 feet away.
4. Set Boundaries
   Let those around you know that you are not available when you’re working, particularly when you’re engaged in a meeting or working on a creative idea. Setting reasonable boundaries will help keep you focused and productive.
5. Stick To Your Schedule
   Start working at your usual time and keep your appointments and meetings throughout the day. This helps keep you in a productive headspace, and lets colleagues and customers know they can depend on you to be there when you normally would.
6. Eat Your Frog First
   Mark Twain speaks to our modern-day work experience surprisingly well: “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” Meaning: do your most unpleasant task first and the rest of the day will be easier.
7. Set Achievable Tasks
   As you progress through your day, crossing things off your to-do list is both motivating and immensely satisfying. Make your tasks realistic and bite-size to prevent being overwhelmed, and to make sure you feel productive throughout the day.
8. Take a Break. Take Two!
   Resist the natural urge to be connected all the time when you’re working remotely. You take breaks to eat, stretch your legs or find a scrap of sanity while you’re at work. Allow yourself those same basic kindnesses while working from home.
9. Allow Time for Interruptions
   Boundaries or not, sometimes the cat runs outside and the baby’s got a face full of soggy cereal and you need to drop everything and lend a hand. You’re often interrupted at work too – interruptions are a part of your job. Try not to get frustrated when they happen at home.
10. Business Unusual
    Have you seen the box? I’m not sure where it is, but I’m pretty sure we’re all out of it. It’s the perfect time to do some out-of-the-box thinking. As Karen Costello said: “Creativity and impact blossom where problems live.” Let this unusual situation inspire you to try something different.
11. Stay Connected
    It may seem like you’re alone, but nothing could be further from the truth. There’s no shortage of tools and technology to keep you connected to colleagues, customers and friends. Take a look at our recent blog post about Tips & Tools For Staying Connected for a few pointers.
12. Ending Your Day
    Consider Parkinson’s Law: “Work expands to fill the time available.” Setting an end to your work day makes you more focused and productive during the hours you’re working. When you would usually head home, close up that laptop and let it go until tomorrow.
13. Keep an Eye on the Future
    Once you establish that routine at home, it’s easy to get caught up in your day-to-day duties. Set some time and effort during your week to plan for the future, and set yourself up to hit the ground running when business is booming again.
14. Appreciate Now
    There will be a day — soon — when we all find ourselves in the office, wondering what happened to all that time we were away. Take some time to enjoy our current situation for its benefits, to appreciate those around you, and to simply be. Take a breath. Take a moment. Take a sip of that coffee.

    And then do it all again tomorrow.

Let us know what you’re doing with your newfound time at home, and how you’re making it work for you. Join the conversation on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.