I’ve been working remotely for tech startups for six years, so I am sharing some tips for those working from home for the first time.

1. Start Working Early
   If you can’t find someone to chat with for 30 minutes while making coffee, consider starting your workday instead.
2. Simulate Office Noise
   If you miss the background noise of your office, try listening to 8 hours of power drill noises here. For a more realistic ambiance, you can overlay it with the most annoying laugh ever here.
3. Afternoon Activities
   Without a ping-pong table at home, you might find yourself with nothing to do but work in the afternoons.
4. Familiarize Yourself with Remote Tools
   Programmers, take some time to get used to the essential tools for remote work, such as Jira, GitHub, Slack, and Zoom.
5. Engage in Local Politics
   If the quarantine lasts longer than expected and you start to miss petty workplace politics, consider joining your local HOA.