You have this project to finish, but the garage needs to be cleaned. Better take the Christmas lights down, oh, and make sure you save some time for checking out and replying to LinkedIn and Twitter posts. If this sounds familiar to you, it’s probably because you’re trying to keep yourself on track when working from home. 

According to the most recent data from Gallup, about 43 percent of Americans work remotely at least part time, and Census data has found that about 3 percent of employees work from home at least half the time.

And while people have lots of reasons for being drawn to work-from-home jobs, they often have similar complaints and hurdles. But with just a few tips you can ensure you’re staying sane while working from home.

Stay on Schedule

You may not want or be able to work 9-5, but you should maintain a regular schedule. If every day is spent simply flying by the seat of your pants, you never give your brain a chance to cool down. This can only add to your stress level.

Take Breaks

Establishing and keeping to a schedule doesn’t mean you keep your nose constantly to the grindstone. Arguably, the best part of working from home is having the freedom to take a long lunch or walk the dog an extra half-mile. 

Talk to a Human at Least Once a Day

Particularly for those folks who work from home and live alone, remote work can be incredibly isolating. Whether it’s a chat with a grocery store clerk or a phone call with an old friend, maintaining human contact is crucial, since you can’t just lean over to the next cubicle and get your social fix.

Set up an Office Space

One of the most common complaints about working from home is the lack of separation from the job and the home. If you can, set up your workspace in a spare room or at least somewhere in your house you don’t have to constantly look at. It also might help you claim a small tax break, but you’ll need to talk to your tax preparer about that.

Push Through Low Productivity Times

We all go through periods where we don’t feel like we’re accomplishing anything. This happens for folks who work in an office every day, too, but they benefit from being able to hide in plain sight. When you’re the only person in your office, there’s nowhere to hide. When you’re feeling unproductive, just keep going and don’t allow yourself to call it a day early.

Train Your Friends and Family

Especially if you’re new to remote work, your friends and family might look at this as a chance to spend more time with you when you really should be working. As we said before, long lunches are great from time to time, but you certainly still need to make money. So try to set up boundaries with the people in your life that make it clear you still value your work.

Don’t Buy Certain Foods

Keeping lots of snacks and junk food on-hand can be a recipe for weight gain when you spend almost all your time at home. Be honest with yourself about your eating (and snacking) habits. If you just can’t resist polishing off a sleeve of Oreos, don’t buy them. And make sure you’re eating actual meals, too, so you’ll be less inclined to graze as you walk past the kitchen.

Get Dressed

One of the most-ballyhooed benefits of working from home is that you probably could do it in your PJs. And while it’s tempting, you should get ready in the morning (or whenever you start your day) pretty much as you would if you had a commute. Sure, you can swap the suit for track pants or the shoes for slippers, but getting ready every morning helps switch your brain into work mode rather than chill mode.

Leave the House

Fresh air and sunshine are well-known to have major benefits to your mental and physical health. Even taking a walk around the block is believed to lower blood pressure in many people. So when you hit a stopping point, or even before you begin your day (depending on your location and the season), walk away from the computer and step outside. If you can fit a workout into your out-of-doors adventure, even better.

Open a Window

The isolation common for many folks who work from home often is just a matter of perspective. If you only see what’s going on inside your office/house, that’s what your perspective will be. Shifting that perspective could be as simple as pulling open your curtains to see the view or all the activity happening in your neighborhood. 

Clean up Every Day

This is harder for those who create a lot of mess in their work, but keeping your workspace tidy helps keep your mental space free of clutter as well. It also will help tomorrow you be more productive because you won’t have to clean up after yesterday you. Throw away any scrap pieces of paper, return any plates or cups you got from the kitchen and return any books or tools you may have gotten down during the course of the day.

If you talk to someone who works from home, they’ll likely tell you they’d rather do nothing else. There’s no doubt the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, but only once you’ve learned to put the negatives aside. A few simple tips can help you combat the isolation that comes with remote work and keep you productive (and sane) when you’re working from home.