ITS Blog

How to Successfully Work from Home: Covid-19 Edition

Since home has become the new office, classroom and just about everything else, it can be hard to stay motivated. Read below for some tips on how you can successfully work from home in the age of COVID-19:


1. Have a set work space

As hard as it is, it’s important to resist the urge to Zoom from bed. If you haven’t already, set up an area in your house to use as your main workstation. This can be an actual home office or any low-traffic nook where you can concentrate on what needs to get done. Also, it’s a good idea to keep clutter to a minimum so you can feel more comfortable and productive while working.


2. Keep a routine

Just because you’re not physically commuting to and from your office/classroom doesn’t mean you should give up on your daily routine. Set a schedule (Google Calendar is a great tool) like you would on any normal work day. Wake up at your usual time, eat breakfast and get dressed in normal clothes. This will help get you in the “I’m ready to work” mindset.


3. Get dressed!

I’m guilty of this myself, but like I said before, it’s important to wear “real” clothes when working from home. You can keep it casual or dress for success, but one thing’s for sure: don’t wear pajamas. They’ll just reel you back into bed. 


4. Take breaks and go outside

To avoid going stir crazy, make sure you break up your work day. Try to get outside as much as possible while following the CDC’s social distancing guidelines. You can take a walk around the block or step into your backyard for a much-needed change of scenery. Reading a book or watching a TV show is another great way to take a break.


5. Minimize distractions

If you’re quarantining with other people, this tip can be especially tricky. Make sure you tell your roommates and family members when your “office hours” are so they don’t intrude (especially not on Zoom calls!). Also, keep the TV off and do your best to limit your time on social media. This will help you be more productive so you can get back to relaxing ASAP!


6. Separate work-life from home-life

This is probably the hardest tip to follow. Now that you’re working from home, it can be hard to set boundaries between your personal life and your work life. To do this, try setting designated work hours. Once time is up, avoid checking your emails and put your school books and work projects out of sight. You can pick up where you left off tomorrow. 


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We know these are hard times, but ITS is here to help. For a comprehensive list of resources and answers to your coronavirus-related questions, visit https://www.binghamton.edu/its/about/organization/information-security/covid-links.html.


Received a phishy Covid-related email? Report it to security@binghamton.edu.


For more information on the actual virus, visit the University’s official Covid-19 webpage. The University will continually share information via this website and “Dateline” on a regular basis.


Experiencing tech problems? Contact the ITS Help Desk at 607-777-6420 or helpdesk@binghamton.edu. You can also check the Self Service Knowledge Base: https://binghamton.service-now.com/sp?id=kb_view2.