As the pandemic stretches on, working from home has become increasingly popular (and more monotonous). For many of us, this is our first time working from home full time. But, regardless of whether you’re a work from home pro or if you’re still on the struggle bus, we can all use some tips to help keep us sane while working remotely. Here are our tips and best practices to help you be more productive (and not go crazy) at home.

1. Utilize Productivity tools

Staying productive at home can be tricky. Especially if you’ve got kids learning remotely and roommates or significant others working from home too. Check out this article for some productivity tools that you probably haven’t heard of yet.

2. Upgrade your Internet speeds

If you have the option to, upgrading your home Internet speeds can be a work from home game changer. With UTOPIA Fiber, you have the option to upgrade your speeds by simply contacting your ISP or our Customer Service Team. We offer symmetrical speeds up to 10 Gbps for residential connections. With speeds that fast, your Zoom calls will never lag, and your files will upload within seconds.

3. Establish a routine

Setting a loose schedule to follow when you work from home can help you create guidelines and maintain balance during this unusual and stressful time. But don’t overwork yourself and burn out! Make sure you brush up on your company policy for breaks and use them. Everyone needs a break, even when you’re working at home.

For more information on how and why to take breaks, see How to Take Better Breaks to Boost Your Productivity.

4. Create a comfortable and productive office space

Who else misses their cubicle? I don’t think we ever thought it would get to this point. But, after 9+ months of quarantine, crappy office coffee and watercooler talk sound so good right now. To help yourself be more comfortable with your home office, try and create a designated space to work every day. It doesn’t have to be a full office; in fact, it can be your couch, your kitchen table, wherever you feel comfortable — just creating a designated space to work from helps!

If you really want to take it to the next level, check out these tricks to create an ergonomic home office.

5. Learn how to use your VPN

It’s important to utilize your company VPN whenever you’re connected to a network that you don’t fully trust. If you’re working remotely at a co-working space, coffee shop, or libraries you’ll definitely want to connect to your VPN. But remember, when you are connected to your VPN, your company can see what you’re doing online. Try to avoid online shopping or Netflix binging while connected to your VPN. Not that you would do that anyway (wink wink).

6. Create a process for collaboration

Working from home doesn’t always have to be just a solo thing! Make sure to take time to collaborate and communicate with your coworkers, just like you did in the office. You can fight off work from home loneliness by initiating meetings with your team, asking for or giving feedback, and even initiating post-work Zoom happy hours. Just remember, it’s essential to make time for collaboration while you work remotely.

7. Make the most of your video calls

Zoom, GoToMeeting, Google Hangout, Microsoft Teams. There are so many different video conferencing platforms. And, I know we’re all getting sick of staring at ourselves on our grainy camera screen, but I think we can all agree that video calls are the crux of working from home. Check out these gadgets and tools that can help improve your video calls. And, check out our blog about how to use Zoom backgrounds.

8. Take advantage of the perks

Working from home has advantages and disadvantages. One of the biggest benefits of remote work is having flexibility. So, don’t forget to take advantage of that and use your lunch break to do some laundry or dishes. Or spend that hour making a fancy lunch (just about anything beats heating up a microwavable meal in the breakroom). Stay in your PJs all day, don’t shower until your lunch break (or at all); no one will know!

To really take your WFH game to the next level, sign up for UTOPIA Fiber and start Zooming, Slacking, and Microsoft Team-ing at the speed of light.