Flexibility is one of the greatest perks of working from home—but while remote work does offer the ability to create your own schedule, sometimes with flexibility comes increased pressure. Without facetime with coworkers in the office, you may feel pressure to spend more time online, to cut lunches short, or you might even forget to take breaks. It is important to prioritize work-life balance both for your mental and physical health. Here are some of our best tips to achieve better balance when working from home—without having physical coworkers to remind you to leave the office on time or to take lunch away from the computer.

1. Set Working Hours

One of the most important ways to manage work-life balance is to set specific work hours for the day. Don’t sign on to work first thing when you wake up. Instead, take the time to have a solid morning routine that helps get you in the right frame of mind to begin working. This might include exercising, a cup of coffee, or making a homemade breakfast. Pick a start time and an end time for each day and stick to them. Setting boundaries for your workday allows you to make time and enjoy other things in your life.

2. Make Plans Outside of Work

Making social plans for after work can be useful for breaking the habit of working into the evening and gives you something to look forward to at the end of the day. Use a planner or a wall calendar to manage both your daily work and non-work plans with a reliable and stylish pen like the sleek Sarasa Grand Retractable Gel Pen. It comes in 6 fashionable barrel colors and has a smooth writing experience to help manage daily tasks, weekly dinner menus, and family adventures. If your plans are ever-changing, try the DelGuard Mechanical Pencil that features a hidden eraser that makes it the perfect tool for plans that aren’t set in stone. It also has patent pending technology that helps eliminate lead breakage. Learn more about how you can Choose Different with pens and pencils that set you apart.

3. Avoid Multi-tasking

It is incredibly easy to get sidetracked when working from home, especially with household chores. During the work hours you have set for yourself, keep yourself in work mode. It can be tempting to throw in a quick load of laundry or to tidy up the house while you’re working but it’s more distracting than helpful. If you schedule breaks during your workday, use those times to do housework, but be mindful that you stick to the break and don’t exceed that time. Your productivity will be better when you’re 100% focused on work.

4. Create a Designated Workspace

Create a space in your home that is just for work. It could be a desk, a dining room table, or a room in your home. This space should have minimal distractions, good lighting, and enough space to contain everything you need. Set up your space with all of the essentials you need for work including computer, monitors, charging cables, phone charger, notebook, and paperwork to prevent yourself from unnecessarily leaving your workspace during working hours. Use this space only for work to help separate your work life from home life.

5. Take Planned Time Off

Everyone needs time off to refresh and recharge, especially when you are working from home. Planning a week-long vacation or even one day off can be just what the doctor ordered to ensure you don’t experience work burnout. Use these days to get important tasks done around the house, spend time with family and friends, or just simply relax. You may feel like you aren’t entitled to days off because you work from home, but you deserve it. Your mind needs time away from work to restore, just like anyone else. Working from home can be a difficult adjustment if you are used to working in an office or any other type of environment. At times it can be hard to develop routines and get yourself in the right frame of mind to be productive and balance your home life with your work. Putting these tips into action can help give you the work and home life you’ve been searching for. For more work from home tips, check out 5 Tips For Crushing Your Next Video Conference Call.