SquareWorks Consulting team works remotely with their clients for our projects and implementations. Our consultants have a lot of practice perfecting their remote environment – we’ve asked our consultants for their advice to those of you transitioning to remote work. Whether it’s your first time working from home, or you are looking to improve your routine, our team has compiled some of our best recommendations:

Have a dedicated ‘office’ space in your home.
Whether it’s a full room, or just a corner, a physical space connected to work can help you get into the mental flow better. Get up and get ready as you usually would, then head to this space – it helps trigger the mind for “work.”

Don’t try to do chores during the workday for the first few weeks.
Get a work routine established first, then reassess your other To-Do list.

Set a schedule for yourself and stick to it.
Leave yourself time in the morning to get ready and brew a cup of coffee or tea before starting to work. Have a dedicated time and way to “Shut Off” at the end of the day to keep the separation of work and personal life.

Avoid outside distractions during working hours.
Utilize your phone’s do not disturb mode – you can set it so work calls come through but block other background notifications (texts, social media notifications, news, etc).

Don’t forget to communicate with your teammates.
During this transition, you should over-communicate with frequent updates that can be digested easily by coworkers and customers. This also means you should reach out for help sooner than in an office setting. Being alone in a home environment can bring added frustration when you’re stuck on an issue.

Set clear (and fair) expectations with your family/kids/roommates.
Explain when you are available and when you are not, set aside time to help with kids/household duties (especially if your spouse is newly working from home as well), and provide guidelines as to how others in the house should interact with you when you are working (please knock on my office door before entering, please do not knock when I am on a call, etc.).

Lastly, always take the time to stretch, refill your water, and take your lunch away from the workspace to reenergize.
Working from home is all a balancing act – make sure you are establishing and maintaining healthy work and personal habits. Try taking a walk once an hour to stretch and clear your head. Whether you walk outside or just down the hall, a moment away from your desk or computer can help refresh your mind and boost your energy.