Like much of the rest of the country, you’re working from home. Who knows for how long? Whether you already had a home office or this was never part of your game plan, you need to make peace with the situation, make it work—and get busy. Here are six tips for doing so creatively and guiding you through this temporary “new normal” for productivity.

1. Claim your new office (Sure, it can be the far end of the couch…)

Are you home alone? Lucky you. We’re jealous. You can permanently take over the kitchen table, never have to clear the desk for kids’ or roommates, or juggle conference call times with your also-working-from-home spouse. However, if your household includes other people and you’re already feeling the squeeze, you’ll want to carve out your own space, one that’s at least somewhat sacrosanct.

Whether that is a separate room, a bedroom corner, a repurposed coffee table or even a “standing desk” that has you and your laptop hovering over the closed washing machine, you’ll want to designate it in ways that sets parameters, helps inspire you and contributes to your focus. Keep files, desk accessories and job-related paperwork together in the new official workspace, perhaps in a basket or caddy if you don’t have an actual desk.

2. Create a schedule (and stick to it… sort of)

Are you an early riser? Not fully human until after 9 a.m.? Hated 3 p.m. meetings because they interfered with your afternoon slump? Then now is the time to identify the most productive times of the day for you. If you’re a working/homeschooling parent, a split shift might be the answer to meeting employer obligations and your kids’ needs. This could be accomplished by working for a few hours in the morning, breaking for “teacher” duty, and then resuming your own work in the afternoon through early evening.

Two WFH pro tips when others are home:

• Use signs around your work area to help others know when they can enter/disturb you or if your family needs to use their “Mom’s on a call” whisper voice.

• Park your perfectionism in a corner somewhere. Interruptions will happen; hilarity will likely ensue. It’s all good.

3. Make a second schedule—just for you

Work/life balance is a real thing. And even if it was hard to maintain in our old lives, it’s crucial now that we’re never away from our laptops, emails and mobile notifications. Make time in your schedule to walk or exercise (indoors or outside), call or video chat with friends and extended family (nothing says “hello, extroverts!” like a virtual coffee break), and indulge in hobbies or simply enjoy some quiet time. Try to remember what you said you’d always do if you didn’t have that time-stealing daily commute…and do it!

4. Dress for your day (at least on top)

You may not be going to the office but you still need to put on an “office attitude.” While the shelter-at-home dress code is certainly more relaxed, some standards remain: shy away from PJs or sweatshirts, hair combed, save the team jersey for super-fan Fridays. Completing your normal “get ready for work” routine can help you feel engaged and ready to own the day, whether that’s your favorite color polo, a bit of lipstick or a special accessory.

5. Embrace the interactive (Smile… you’re on video!)

It’s a brave new video meeting world and we’ve seemingly come full circle to the Brady Bunch opener. Yes, it can be intimidating, but isn’t it nice to see your co-workers? Human aren’t wired to live in isolation, so until we go back to our pre-pandemic lives, these video platforms are the next best thing to being there. In fact, community—as well as clarity on assignments, next steps, deadlines and more—can be found via multiple means. Be open to using all available communication platforms, especially if team members have other preferences. Remember, too, while texting and various social media are great ways to interact, there’s always the actual phone call. It’s a real-time human connection like no other, easily conveying tone and warmth… and there’s no annoying buffering.

Today’s Zoom Gallery View vs. The Brady Bunch television opening sequence, which first aired more than 50 years ago.

6. Let the sun shine in…

You may be stuck inside for too many hours of the day, but you can still benefit from natural light in your workspace. Open the curtains first thing. Take a short walk outdoors after breakfast or during lunch. Or simply step outside and let the sun warm the back of your neck for ten minutes. Remember to periodically look outside. And take a deep breath… because we’re all in this together.