Look, don’t get me wrong, I love working remotely.

There’s something wonderful about that extra half hour of sleep, that first cup of coffee, and knocking out stories from my couch, in my comfy clothes.

Here’s the thing, though. Coronavirus has inadvertently launched the world’s biggest work-from-home experiment, and while the occasional remote working day is cool, I wouldn’t want to be at home seven days a week.

For one thing, I think it’s important to put on real pants every now and then along with a shirt that doesn’t have an old wine stain on it.

If working remotely is your new reality, or just how your job works, VICE has some tips for not becoming, what they call, a “lonely garbage slug”.

Don’t start working first thing in the morning

Give yourself some time to acclimatise to being awake and alive before diving in.

Instead of bypassing your normal morning routine, make a point to not look at your work emails or Slack until you’ve gotten up and moving and are feeling a bit more human.

Feeling human is an essential part of a productive work day.

You’re Not Commuting, so treat yo’self

Take a relaxing bath, instead of a shower, before you get stuck in. If a bath isn’t an option, or you don’t like baths, now is the perfect time to try that face mask, or add another layer to your skincare regime.

If you do nothing else, brush your teeth, wash your face and put on clean underwear

You can put the pyjamas back on, just change your pants. A little personal hygiene goes a long way towards making you feel like less of a Dorito-covered couch monster.

Clean Pyjamas

The first tip in nearly every article on remote working is “put on real clothes”.

We’re not about that life. Clean pyjamas will do.

You could also wear something that makes you feel a little more put together like your workout clothes, so that you can get that heart rate up during your lunch break, or when work is done, before your shower.

Don’t work from bed

Your bed is comfortable, but not an ideal working spot.

What feels nice at 8 a.m. can feel unkempt, and possibly like a health code violation, at 3 p.m. Make a point to set up in another place in your home, and consider relocating (from the kitchen table to the couch, etc.) throughout the day—it’ll help stop you from feeling too slovenly.

Finally, keep in touch with the outside world, eat a healthy lunch (not a bag of crisps) and don’t stress too much.

Then make a plan at least once a week to see actual people, out in the real world.

Preferably, not in your pyjamas.

[source:vice]