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Rather than cooping yourself up in your room or on the couch - spaces that are associated with leisure time - set yourself up in a specific area of your home that you will use exclusively as your workspace. when setting up your workspace. Don't forget about lighting, temperature and aesthetics, too. Make it comfortable, clear the clutter, and perhaps add a plant or open a window (as weather permits).

Having clear guidelines for when to work and when to call it a day helps many remote workers maintain work/life balance. To be the most productive telecommuter you can be, adhere to your schedule.Structure your day like you would in the office or worksite by planning out what specific tasks you'll do and when. Don't forget to schedule and stick to lunch times and breaks, too. You will feel better emotionally and mentally with a consistent routine.

In our 24/7 culture, it's sometimes difficult to log off, and our bodies could suffer because of it. Being constantly connected can affect our emotional and physical health. Make sure to disconnect and maintain separation between working from home and simply being at home. This includes having a separate phone number for work vs. personal calls. Kent State employees can use Cisco Jabber to answer calls that come into your office line on your computer. Visit www.kent.edu/keeponworking for more information or reach out to your local I.T. Support for details on Jabber and other tools to support remote work.

Make sure they understand to respect your focus during work hours. Just because you're working from home doesn't mean you're truly "at home". If you have children at home, they need clear rules about what they can and cannot do during your work time.