Google, Microsoft, Twitter, Apple and Amazon from the UK to the US, Japan to South Korea, these are all global companies that have, in the last few days, rolled out mandatory work-from-home policies amid the spread of Covid-19. It’s realistic to assume that shifting to the ‘home office’ will become the new normal for many of us for a while, given the announcement by the World Health Organization that the coronavirus has officially reached ‘pandemic’ status. ​The coronavirus outbreak has triggered an anxious trial run for remote work on a grand scale. What we learn in the next few months could help shape a future of work that might have been inevitable, with or without a once-in-a-century public-health crisis.

In the midst of the new coronavirus pandemic, many companies are implementing voluntary or mandatory work-from-home policies. That means lots of us are dealing with an unusual challenge: working from home for the first time, full-time. Even if you’ve done it before, working from home because of coronavirus might feel like a whole new world: It’s probably sudden. It might be for an extended period of time rather than a day here and there (and you’re not at all sure how long it’ll last). Your whole company is involved. And you can’t necessarily socialize in person outside of work. These tips will help you make sure that you’re successful, both at getting your work done and at maintaining your mental well-being:

• Designate a workspace or home office: One of the big challenges when it comes to working remotely is keeping your work and home lives separate. If you never fully disconnect from work, your work productivity will suffer and your home life can take a hit as well.
• Keep clearly defined working hours: Just as you designate and separate your physical workspace, you should be clear about when you’re working and when you’re not. You’ll get your best work done and be most ready to transition back to the office if you stick with your regular hours. Plus, if your role is collaborative, being on the same schedule as your coworkers make everything much easier.
• Build transitions into (and out of) work: Your morning commute not only gets you to work—from one physical location to another—but it also gives your brain time to prepare for work. Just because you’re not traveling doesn’t mean you shouldn’t carve out equivalent routines to help you ease into your workday.
• Don’t get too overwhelmed by the news: Distraction is one of the big challenges facing people who work from home—especially people who aren’t used to it. “Your home is right in front of you,” Berger says. That means that whatever you’re usually thinking about getting home to after work is now with you. It’s human to get distracted. But you need to be wary of how much you let yourself get distracted.
• Communicate, communicate, communicate: If you don’t usually work from home, chances are there will be some bumps in the road if you have to suddenly go fully remote. The key to steering through these bumps is communication—especially with your manager and direct reports. Either before you make the switch or as soon as you know it’s happening, come up with a plan that lays out expectations for how often you should check in and how you’ll convey any changes or new assignments to one another.
• Don’t forget to socialize: When the whole office suddenly starts working from home, you’re cutting off a lot of the casual social interactions you’re used to having throughout the day that help you feel less lonely and break up the monotony of work.​

Some of the biggest challenges for employers include workers struggling with loneliness, managing their time, and communication among staff members. What's more, as schools and colleges shut down across the world, working parents must juggle company and family priorities. Here are four simple tips for implementing an effective work-from-home set-up with your kids:

1. Create a schedule.
2. Set boundaries with your children.
3. Take breaks.
4. Alternate shifts with your partner.​

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