For some, working from home is an ideal situation. But for others, it may seem like an impossible task. How will you get anything done with kids, pets, and spouses vying for your attention? Unfortunately, with the current coronavirus outbreak, working from home may now be your only option. Ready or not, you’re working from home.

So in order to make this transition as seamless as possible, we’re sharing a few tips on how to be productive while working from home. We hope these suggestions will help to make the current situation as pleasant as possible. And remember, we’re all in this together — so share these tips with a friend!

Under normal circumstances, you have a daily routine you follow. You get up, shower, have a cup of coffee, then head to work. Try to keep this routine going, even when you’re working from home. Following this routine will help switch you into work mode, despite being at home.

If you usually work 9-5, keep these working hours. Or, set new ones that work best for you. Just be sure to log in and log off at the same time each day to help you stick to your routine. Make sure everyone in your household knows these times, so that you can be productive and undisturbed during these hours.

Even if you’re completely undisturbed when working from home, you may start to get restless or stir-crazy from having to stay in one spot. If this is the case, schedule breaks for yourself throughout the day. Take 15 minutes to make yourself a cup of tea, get some fresh air (if possible), or maybe even do a quick workout. This will give you a mental break so you can come back to your work refreshed and ready to focus. Just be sure to stick to your schedule so you can stay on track.

It’s hard to focus on your work when there are kids, televisions, and other distractions all around you. If you’re lucky enough to have a home office, this should provide you with a quiet space to do your work. But if not, you’ll likely have to make due with your kitchen table, living room couch, or little nook in the house. Regardless of where you set up shop, have all the supplies you’ll need in this space and create the mindset that in this space, you’re in work mode. Once you log off for the day, leave this area just like you’d leave your desk at work for the night.

While it can be tempting to catch up on laundry, the dishes, or tune in to the news while working, these tasks can quickly interfere with your productivity and priorities. Save personal tasks like household chores for lunch breaks and before or after your working hours to ensure you are getting your work done. Even though you’re at home, pretend you’re at the office during your working hours and save those personal tasks for later.

It’s nice to step away from your desk at work for a few minutes and catch up with your coworkers when you’re in the office. Similarly, you should still take some time to connect with the outside world — even when you’re confined to your house. Schedule a video call with your team or take a few minutes to check in via email or chat to help you all stay connected. We’re social creatures and you may start to miss the social aspect of your job when you’re at home.

Social distancing is new to all of us, and may be challenging for many. Make the most of the situation by following these tips so you can continue to be productive while working from home. Do you have a lot of distractions or is this an easy transition for you? Share your thoughts with us below — we’d love to hear from you!