If you’re new to working remotely, you may love the idea of not having to fight traffic on your way to and from work. And you may enjoy lounging in your PJs in your virtual office all day long—for about a week or two. Or, you may feel lost from the get-go.

Here’s a handy guide on how to make the most of working from home—in body, mind and productivity. Assuming your technology is already set up for remote work.

1. Keep a routine

A routine is a must when you’re working from home. Get up at your usual time*, shower, eat breakfast, get dressed and do all the things you typically do when you work in your regular office. This will help you start off the day right.

If this is hard for you, consider turning on your video during your virtual meetings so others can see you. This can motivate you to get ready for work in the morning.

2. Set goals for your day

You may be too distracted at home so first, eliminate the distractions. If you can’t do that, then help yourself stay focused by setting work goals for each day. What do you want to accomplish by the end of the day? And how are you going to get there?

If you’re having difficulty keeping yourself accountable, ask a friend at work to check in with you on your progress at the end of the day. If you don’t feel comfortable with that, write an email or handwritten note to yourself with your accomplishments for the day. Once you get into the habit of holding yourself accountable, working from home will get easier.

3. Take breaks

You don’t realize how often you take breaks, even if just short ones, until you no longer take them. Every time you walk to the water cooler to fill up your bottle or go to the bathroom, you’re on a mini break. But when you’re working from home, your kitchen and bathroom are much closer to your desk, cutting your steps down quite a bit. A shorter distance also gives less time to your brain to reset. So make an effort to get up, stretch your legs, look away from the screen and rest your mind.

4. Don’t just sit

Even when you’re seated, you can still move. Check out these and these chair yoga-inspired movements to get your blood moving.

I got a big exercise ball I like to bounce and sit on to switch things up. Sometimes I squat. And sometimes, I take my calls standing up or walking around in the living room.

Get more breathe, move and reset hacks here.

5. Eat your lunch—and get plenty of fluids

It’s very easy to work through lunch when you’re at home. And working through lunch does not make you more productive. It just makes you less healthy.

Schedule a lunch appointment with yourself on your calendar. Do not skip it!

6. Separate work time from fun time

You hear the term “work-life integration” thrown around a lot these days. Well, it means different things to different people so I don’t like to use this term. Yes, you may need to go to the doctor during the day and make up for it by working later that day, but when you’re constantly working from home, you can easily fall into the habit of not leaving much playtime for yourself.

There should always be an end to your workday. Your work will not stop so YOU have to put it on pause until the next day.

Download our free ayurvedic workday planner.

7. Create a separate workspace

If you’re in a position to carve out a nook in your house for a work area, do so. And when you’re done, walk away from it. Fold it up, put it away, close the door. Out of sight, out of mind until the next day.

8. Connect with people

Depending on the work you do, you may not talk to a single soul all day. Yes, you’ll fire off hundreds of emails but not talk to anyone. Connecting with your friends and family is important. Make an effort to reach out to them.

If you’re new in town and don’t know anyone, strike up a conversation with someone at the grocery store. And you can always call your friends back home.

By no means is this list exhaustive, but it should help you get started. Leave a comment with your questions or ideas.

*If you normally need to get up extra early because of your commute, consider resting a little longer and carve out some time for meditation and/or a morning workout.

Image by Mikhail Nilov, Pexels