5 Ways to Work From Home Efficiently + Perspectives to Gain from COVID-19

What a weird month it's been.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted each and every one of us.

New York City has felt like a ghost town the past few weeks now. Workout classes went from limited capacity to closing. Our favorite restaurants, coffee shops, movie theaters, gyms... all closing its doors.
These limitations weren't there before.  These luxuries that we've been comfortable with and never thought twice about, have given us an opportunity to re-evaluate what we do have. 
What I've been noticing is how this situation is forcing us to cope with our anxiety, stress, issues, daily habits... all at the same time. It feels like a challenge, almost. However, I believe that these situations teach us how to handle times of crisis. How we choose to react. How we choose to respond. It is dependent on humanity to come and stand together as one, informing one another, educating one another, helping one another to flatten the curve. Click (here) to learn more.  But the only way it works is... TOGETHER. 
I hope that we will gain a lot from this current situation.  I pray that if anything, we will be more hopeful, grateful, act more out of kindness, not out of selfishness. We won't take people or things for granted. We'll learn how to remain calm in a serious situation. We'll be able to love one another even while keeping our distance.

This time last year, I would've never thought something as big as Coachella would get postponed.  Or the NCAA tournament would get cancelled.  Or churches would have to cancel services. Restaurants would have to close its doors. Small business owners would lose their jobs. Freelancers and entrepreneurs would be put in a tough financial situation. We would have to learn how to distance socially from others.  (Though, for some of us... we're pros)
All of this goes to show just how small the world really is. Things will get cancelled. Period.  How it can take something we've been waiting months for -- a wedding, an engagement party, traveling the world, etc. -- and press pause on the world. 
Life has an interesting way of reminding us to slow down.

I'd love to hear your perspectives so far on COVID-19.

What have you learned from this?

Working from home is not everyone's cup of tea. 

I'll be honest, it has its pros and cons. 

Ideally, it sounds like the perfect scenario: you don't have to get up from bed, you don't have to commute to an office, you don't even have to change out of your PJs.

But working from home can also make you feel lonely, distracted, and hard to focus.

Here's 5 TIPS to work from home efficiently. 

1) Make a schedule.
When you're working from home, you're more likely to focus on other tasks that you normally wouldn't focus on in an office setting. You end up scrolling on Instagram for an hour in bed, and before you know it, it's noon. Or you're hitting snooze because you know you don't have to be anywhere physically. Making a schedule holds you accountable for what you write down (or type out). I've found that crossing off tasks throughout the day makes me feel more accomplished and keeps me motivated.

2) Dress for the job.
Literally. You don't have to wear a suit or a blazer at home, but if you're working in PJs, you're more likely to bum around. You're comfy, dressed in clothes you lounge around in... it's tempting not to hop on the couch and turn on Netflix. Changing your attire, just like you would when you're in office, can actually help you change your mindset and keep you focused.

3) Take your usual breaks.
Home or office, it shouldn't matter. If you're doing work that you normally do, then you should take your usual breaks. If that means getting up from your desk and going to the kitchen for water, do so. Try to drink one glass of water every hour, so you're also staying hydrated. I've found that when I'm home, I'm drinking less water because I'm not thinking about it.
A changed setting shouldn't mean a changed lifestyle.

4) Have a work buddy.
Even if you can't physically work with someone together, you can do it virtually.
FaceTime your coworker, best friend, or family member, so that way you can both hold each other accountable for not procrastinating your work and staying motivated throughout the day.

5) Establish a way to end your day.
When your "work day" is over, do something / reward yourself to tell your body and mind that you're done for the day. For instance, when 5pm hits and you've completed all your tasks, sign off, and watch a movie or a TV show. Having some sort of reward at the end of your day is a great way to keep you motivated. It's also a great feeling knowing that you were able to do everything you needed to, and also had time to relax afterwards.

What are some tips you'd like to add? I'd love to hear them!