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Woman working from home during COVID-19 pandemicdamircudic/iStockPhoto / Getty Images

While working from home can offer child care benefits, it’s important to be responsive to the office to prove you’re actually working.Getty Images

The future of work is the work itself, not where and when the work takes place. Workplace flexibility programs are already catching on and will soon become standardized.Many workers enjoy freedom and flexibility and some are even quitting their jobs to becoming freelancers in order to gain that freedom.

Working from home is causing breakdowns. Ignoring the problem and blaming the pandemic is no longer an option

Thinking about permanently working from home?

Working from home can be difficult for some people as they develop their own careers. Here are six expert tips that will help you work from home successfully:

6. Create a daily routine at home and stick to it

It's easy to get sidetracked and lose focus if you don't have a work schedule. You are in charge of creating your own schedule and managing it. You should set up a daily routine for yourself, which includes meals, exercise, calls, meetings and project focus areas. In addition, you should track your own progress and results.

5. Get some face time with your employer

Strong relationships are created face-to-face, and that is unlikely to change despite more work going remote and technologies – such as Zoom or Slack – being used in more professional environments. Schedule meetings or one-on-ones with managers so that you can have a reason for checking in with your co-workers. Then use that time most effectively to accomplish your goals.

4. Respond to e-mails quickly

When you're working from home, one of the biggest challenges is to prove to your manager, and your team, that you're actually working. If you are very responsive, people will take notice and it will be obvious that you're using your time properly and aren't getting distracted by personal things. People who respond to e-mails quickly and don't wait hours are more trusted and are given more important projects.

3. Network as much as you can

When you work from home, you rely on the Internet as your path to building a successful network. While the Web can help you create and build a strong network quickly, don’t neglect going to conferences and other networking events.

The worst thing you can do is not trying to meet people. You should also strive to connect with other groups and business functions in your company so you can expand your network and get the resources you need to be successful.

2. Leverage your enterprise social network

Many companies, especially tech companies, have internal social networks. Some of the companies that have been building their enterprise networks include EMC, McGraw-Hill, CA Technologies and CitiGroup. Use this network to help your co-workers solve problems, start new conversations around interesting topics and publish creative ideas that can help push the business forward.

1. Use tech tools

One reason why we’ve seen a surge in employees working from home is that we have the technology to support it now. Collaboration tools such as QuickBase or DropBox allow your colleagues to see your real-time edits, projects you’re working on and comment on them.

You should also use other tools such as Google Hangouts and Skype in order to do video conferencing with your team. Since you’re working at home and aren’t getting a lot of face time, at least use video so people remember what you look like.

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