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In the midst of the new coronavirus pandemic, many companies have implemented voluntary or mandatory work-from-home policies.

That means lots of us are dealing with an unusual challenge: working from home.

Here are some tips and ways to make working from home easier.

Get Dressed

For some people, the prospect of staying in their pyjamas all day is the most tantalising aspect of working from home. But washing and getting dressed will not only improve your state of mind, it will psychologically prepare you to start work.

Designate a Workspace or Home Office

One of the big challenges when it comes to working remotely is keeping your work and home lives separate.

Entering your workspace will help you turn “on” at the beginning of the day and get down to work. On the flipside, leaving your workspace will also help you turn “off” at the end of the day and fully disengage.

Try to make your workspace comfortable with a chair you can sit in for eight hours a day and a few decorations.

Build Transitions Into (and Out of) Work

Maybe you usually read or listen to music on your commute. You can do that at home and give yourself something that will signal the end of work and serve as a buffer.

Use Technology

Being out of the office doesn’t mean you’re all alone. Thanks to technology, you can stay as connected as ever to your coworkers. From Slack to Skype, you’ll be able to keep office culture going.

Take Regular Breaks

It’s good to have a routine when you’re working from home, but work shouldn’t become monotonous.

Set a Finish Time

When you’re working from home it’s easy to lose the set structure of the day. Set defined times when you’re going to work, and then when it passes, stop. You can have a bit of leeway here, but make sure that you don’t end up blurring the work-life balance.