For many during the COVID-19 outbreak, the new normal will be remote work. Working from home, sounds great, right? Waking up later, not having to worry about that annoying morning commute, eating whatever you want at your desk, like that leftover salmon you made last night? But when it’s time to sit down and get things done, it may be harder than you thought. Here are some things to consider when you transition to remote work.

Getting Acclimated

First, create a positive work environment. We all know remote work can be difficult due to distractions (food, Netflix, dogs, etc.). Construct an environment that makes you feel motivated. Having the right tools and equipment is essential in being able to transition to remote work.

Additionally, create a routine. Start your day as you typically would. Set an alarm, eat a good breakfast, and do your morning workout. Get dressed and yes, that means no pajamas. Take time for a lunch break outside your work space to set boundaries between work and leisure. Make sure you eat the same as you would if you were at the office. Eating healthy can help you be more energized, and too much take-out can make you feel sluggish and less productive.

The Benefits of Working from Home

Freedom of setting your own work environment. You have total control over how your work environment can be at home and really make it your own. You won’t have to worry about loud co-workers distracting you. Also, you can listen to your music as loud as you want!

You have more time. Since you’re cutting your commute out of your day, you have more time to yourself. Now you can check off all those little tasks that you never had time for.

No more commute expenses. Remote work means saying goodbye to paying for gas, tolls and parking. Instead, put the time you spent commuting to cooking breakfast, checking emails, or walking your dog.

Since there are fewer interruptions at home (if you don’t have kids), you won’t have someone coming up to you asking questions every half hour.

More time with your family. Even if you aren’t able to hang out with your loved ones during working hours, you still have the opportunity to spend quality together during the hours you would have been commuting or to enjoy lunch together.

Potential Obstacles to Consider

There is no physical face-to-face interaction with clients or co-workers. You won’t have in-person meetings to really build a connection with a potential or current client. Maintaining that out-of-office connection with your co-workers is important too when working from home. Planning outings like happy hours, bowling, etc. can really help keep the collaboration going.

There is no separation between work and leisure. Having strict time frames built into your schedule when working from home is important. Make sure you have a good balance of work time and relaxation time.

You have to make an effort to get a change of scenery. Taking a walk during lunch or running to the store during the day can eliminate the feeling of the same thing every day. Also, making sure you get enough exercise is crucial to being the most energized.

You can feel out of the loop. Sometimes your team might not send you every email or invite you to every video call. Therefore, being proactive in following up with your co-workers and making sure you know what’s going on will help feeling like you’re not missing important information.