These tips were developed by Cassandra Jolicoeur, student care coordinator, and Elizabeth London, counselor, in the Student Affairs Department. But the advice applies to us all now, doesn't it?

Know Your Work Style: Do you prefer to work in a noisy environment with music or a television playing in the background? Or do you need absolute silence? Are you a productive early bird, or do you have your best ideas as a night owl? Does your family pet, younger sibling, guardian provide welcome company while you are working, or do they provide too much of a distraction? Are you more likely to use a highly organized planner to map out your day or do you prefer a line of colorful sticky notes? Only you know how you work best!

Create a Workspace: Creating an organized workspace in your home may help you stay productive. Make sure it includes everything you might need to be productive (computer, charger, writing utensils, paper, etc..). Having a specific space to work (as opposed to working on your bed or in front of the T.V.) can minimize distractions and help you separate “work time” from “down time”.

Schedule your Day: While “unscheduled days” are a great way to relax, too many unorganized days might make us feel messy or that all of our days are smushing together. Try scheduling your day, the same way you would if you were going outside. Wake up at a specific time, take a shower, get some breakfast, and work on whatever you schedule for yourself that day.

Take a Break: Scheduling breaks when working from home is just as important as scheduling breaks during a regular workday. Schedule yourself a lunch time, a call with a friend, or take 5 minutes to stretch. While it may be easy for some to work remotely, especially sitting in a comfortable spot in your own home, it can be also easy to develop stiff joints and achy muscles from sitting around too much.

Go Outside (be sure to engage in social distancing):  Because most of us have been working from home for a bit now, the outside world feels like a long forgotten, distant dream. However, we promise you, the outside world is still there! When you can, go outside for a run, a walk, or just a short trip around the block. Moving our bodies, stretching, and going for walks (or any kind of physical activity) can increase the endorphins our bodies produce which in turn, can uplift our moods.

No Matter what You do, Make Sure You Do You:  With all of the information going around about COVID-19 and the new social norm, of social distancing, a lot of advice is being tossed around on how to get through these strange and uncertain times. No matter what activities you decided to engage in, remember that anything you choose is okay. You can use this time to write the next best-selling novel or try that Pinterest recipe you never have quite enough time to get to. You can use this time to prioritize your own self-care and think about how you can schedule some more “me” time in your day to day. Use this time to engage in anything that works for you.

And also, wash your hands. You have to wash your hands. With soap.