It seems like there are a couple camps when it comes to working from home:

• People who like the idea of it and the amount of flexibility it provides.

• People who say, “That would not work for me. I get too distracted.”

And yet, suddenly many people are working from home and may be feeling overwhelmed. If that describes you, read on for photos of home offices of friends and colleagues as well as basic tips we have gathered while working from home offices for over a decade.

Get out of bed and get dressed.

I’m sorry if this sounds silly, but it’s real. It can be alluring to just stay in your pajamas all day, sit in bed with your laptop and work. Maybe you did that last week? But, you don’t want to make it a habit. Why not? For one, it’s better to keep your work and your bed separate. You’ll sleep better. And, getting dressed each day to prepare for work actually helps prevent depression.

Carve out a space that’s for working.

As best as you can, find a spot in your home that can be designated as your home office space—at least during the day, at least for now. It can be a corner of a bedroom, the dining room table, a card table…any place, really. The idea is that there is a spot in your home that is your workspace during the day. When work is over, you close your computer and walk away from that space until the next morning.

While you are not physically going in to an office, you can still set some physical boundaries about where you are in your home during work time. Yes, it’s kind of a mental game, but it also helps you keep your focus during the day and helps you shut off work at night.

Make sure you have what you need.

Set up your computer, move a lamp to be closer to you, find a comfortable, but supportive chair. Try to be in a space where your internet access is strong. It’s likely you’ll be doing more videoconferencing over the next few weeks so make sure your your cam and headphones are ready to roll.

Some folks try to reduce paper use and keep all their work digital but our colleague Heidi Ham from the National AfterSchool Association highlights the value of going old-school: “Use the technology available to you, but don’t underestimate the value of a sketchpad or great notebook, a few sharp pencils, a set of sharpies, a stapler, and scissors. Having materials available for both digital and analog creating keeps your mind engaged, the body engaged, and spirits up.”

Set a schedule.

Your work from home schedule may be the same as your regular office schedule or may not. And if you’re currently homeschooling, your schedule is totally out of whack anyway. Do your best to set parameters on your time to differentiate between your home self and your work self. If your team uses a shared calendar system, make sure you note times during the day you are unavailable. Also let your team know good times to connect. If you’re trying to schedule meetings around home commitments like children’s nap time, communicate that with the team. We are all in this together and your team is understanding.

Move.

For new-to-home-office folks, it’s common to feel like you’re not actually working if you’re not at your computer. It feels like you’re cheating or getting away with something. But, working from home does not mean that you have to sit at your desk from 9-5. You don’t want to stare at your screen every minute of the day—it’s important for your brain and your well-being to have sunshine and visual stimulation. And, it’s important to move your body. Aim to move around at least once every hour. Get a drink of water, pour yourself some tea, take phone calls while walking outside or pacing around your home. If working from home may become a longer term thing for you, consider integrating other ways to move—like an under the desk bike.

Be social.

Working from home can feel very isolating on a good day. With the world as it is today, it feels more isolating. Make it a point to interact with colleagues daily via phone calls, chat messages, #Slack, Teams, GoogleMeet, Zoom, etc.—not just email. Connecting regularly will help you stay sane. You could even consider hosting virtual happy hour at 5 pm—send out a video conference link to your crew and have a time to talk about all non-work stuff.

Keep your space bright and colorful.

Have you noticed that almost all these photos show desks near the window, have colorful walls or flowers, photos of loved ones posted on the wall? I have heard of people who try to set up a home office in a windowless closet or basement, but usually that space doesn’t last long for them. While it may be necessary to keep your work stuff out of the way, consider moving your laptop to a sunnier or more open spot while you’re using it.

Granted, the photos shared here are of home offices for people who have worked remotely for a long time. These offices may be more permanent than your new home office, but they still offer helpful guidance on how to make it work! Are you working remotely? What tips and tricks have been working for you?