Even those of us who enjoy our jobs have had those days when we just didn't want to get up and leave the house early in the morning to commute to our office, watch the clock and then suffer that long, tiring commute back home. Little did many of us know we were going to face a time when we didn't (couldn't) have to leave our homes to go to work and that the family kitchen table would become our office. The COVID-19 pandemic changed our lifestyles and uprooted our daily schedules. While many people had to show up on location as essential workers, there were also those whose jobs mandated our input from our remote locations.

How did this drastic change business?

Both Mike and Len went from working on-site in managerial positions to working from respective home offices. Each one has maintained their scheduled work hours and kept breaks and lunchtimes according to their office schedules. Mike gets dressed in normal business attire as part of his mindset; Len chooses more casual clothing to work in.

"My No. 1 trick for being productive is that I have a space that is set up to be conducive to working. I don't accept the notion that working at home means I can sleep in and make it up on the backend," explained Mike. "The biggest problem is the lack of availability to quickly ask co-worker a question. I have to email or call which can lead to waiting and less productive days due to the additional steps."

"My job, which is normally done at the office, usually includes a lot of in-person trips to courts and other agencies. Since I've been working from home, I've been able to accomplish my normal deskwork although I have had to rely occasionally on outside services like Kinko for heavy-duty printing, etc. Although I have work programs on my computer I lack the heavy-duty and faster office machinery so it slows things down," said Len who also added that waiting to discuss items with co-workers was time-consuming.

Cristina, a private practice mental health professional who regularly works from home, explained that she uses separate phones and laptops for work and personal use. At the end of the day, she logs off and tries to separate her work from home life. She tries not to stay at her work desk too long and takes breaks when needed to avoid "ruminating on issues that, oftentimes, I can step away from if I leave my laptop and work phone at the office."

It's very important to keep boundaries between your work and your personal life when you are living and working in the same place. If your work relies on interacting with colleagues regularly, look into using online chat and audio/visual applications like Zoom, Skype, Facebook Chatrooms or Facetime. If you are part of a team, it helps to start the day with an early morning phone call or virtual meeting. When working from home gets to you and you find you need a change pick up your laptop and visit an internet cafe, be sure to use a Virtual Private Network for security.

There are several benefits for companies that encourage telecommuting as well. In addition to fewer absences due to inclement weather and travel, having employees at several different locations could also keep companies functioning even in natural disasters. Studies from the Journal of Business and Psychology indicate that "the extent of telecommuting had a positive association with job performance." In another study conducted at Harvard Business School, "Companies with work-from-anywhere policies can boost employee productivity, reduce turnover, and lower organizational costs."

Elise Nicpon, sales manager for nationally known Room & Board Business Interiors, recommends that all homeworkers choose an area for work that would most inspire productivity. "Keep your desk clear of anything you don't need for your work," says Nicpon. "An organized desk will feel calmer and more conducive to productivity. Light your work area to relieve eyestrain. And most of all, your chair is important, choose a comfortable and supportive seat, preferably a desk chair."

After creating your environment with a comfortable chair, an organized desk and prepped tech, you will be set up for successful remote working space.