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I’ve been working remotely for the past 9 years now, and though the prospect of this really sounds alluring (which, it definitely has its perks, don’t get me wrong), it can also be strenuously hard. With the huge flux of people being repositioned to work from home for their jobs now into the unforeseeable future due to this coronavid pandemic, I thought I’d throw out some tweaks and tips I’ve learned over the years that might, even just a little, make such a solitary shift a tad bit easier.

You’ve got to have a view. Working remotely practically comes with a guarantee you’ll get lost in your own head at times. Having a windowed view that you enjoy and that allows you to look up and outwards offers a temporary reprieve for your mind.

But also get me away from everything. I think the most important thing I’ve learned about working remotely is that distractions and temptations to do everything but work are all around. I had to think about the places in my home that I frequented the most, gave me the most joy, and offered the ultimate mood for leisure. (My kitchen, my bedroom, and my living room sitting area in front of the TV/laundry room are hot spots for me) Then, I chose my workspace as a place that was completely separated from these areas. For me, it’s a home office, but for anyone that’s just temporarily setting up a workspace that maybe doesn’t have a whole room to dedicate, I’d suggest pinpointing your most distracting spaces in the home and setting up an area as far away as you can from those.

And it’s not just because of distractions that you want to keep your workspace separate from places like the kitchen or in front of the TV. It’s also because taking breaks throughout your workday is crucial, and the literal act of getting up from your desk and taking the steps to the kitchen to make lunch, or to the laundry room to throw in a load, offers another reprieve for your mind and body.

Speaking of getting lost in your own head, taking breaks throughout the workday can either allude you, or become your entire week instead of actually working if you’re not careful. As ridiculous as it may sound, productivity apps for my phone/computer make a huge difference in creating a healthy workflow/mental break balance. One of the most difficult things about working remotely is holding yourself accountable for being productive and keeping the discipline to actually do what needs to be done. And not everyone has a knack for it—but that’s okay! That’s where these apps like Slack, Trello, and Hootsuite, come in handy. From timers to easy, 20-minute spurts of scheduled specific tasks, and even to obnoxious alerts that are reminiscent of foghorns, productivity apps offer aid in everything from time management to lists. These are just really awesome tools to help you create a healthy and prolific work environment. I even have a couple of programs/settings on my laptop that black out my screen to only view a project document, and timed blocks prohibiting my ability to peruse the internet.

Again, even if it’s temporary, setting up a workspace that feels like a workspace is imperative. You don’t have to go all in and buy an office furniture suite, but you can invest in little things that are just as efficient. Memory foam butt pillows for your chair, gel rests for your wrists in front of your keyboard and mouse, scented candles, a speaker or headphones for music, fidget spinners, a Rubik’s cube, an air purifier, or even a coffee warmer pad to keep your java or tea steaming all morning—all offer an ambiance that is cheerful, focused, and personalized to what makes you most productive.

Lastly, don’t forget to step outside. Walk your dogs, have your lunch on your back porch, or go have a ten-minute phone call with your mom in your front yard—whatever it is, getting fresh air a couple of times a day really does wonders for the mind, body, and soul, and it absolutely helps to keep the cabin fever away.

If you have tips about working from home, please drop them in the comment section below! One thing I cannot speak on myself is working from home with kids, so if you have tips for that, please share!

Happy quarantining, everyone.