This post is for the ladies who work from home; the women who work remote. First and foremost, it is both an honor and a privilege to work from home, to be your own boss and to work on your own schedule, remember that. If you work from home 100% of the time, chances are you have heard people say things like, “That must be so nice!” or “I am so jealous.” While it definitely has its perks, it can be difficult to work on your own, separated from co-workers. That is why we are giving you some easy ways to feel more connected and optimize your work from home lifestyle.

1. Pick Up The Phone: Seems simple, right? Refuse to let yourself fall into a pattern of long email chains, minimal conversation and only you and your thoughts to keep you busy. I promise that picking up the phone will not only help boost your productivity, but it will help you feel more connected to your clients and they will admire how much you care about their business. Let’s face it, everyone who works from home deals with some level of paranoia. It can be easy to overthink things when you aren’t in an office, surrounded by your team on a daily basis. Eliminate that paranoia with a phone call. It’s a simple fix!

2. Create Consistency: Decide on a time each week that you will have a call or video call with your clients. Having that time to catch up, connect and share ideas will keep both parties informed. We believe in the power of video calls. It can be nice to mimic that face to face connection when you have the opportunity! Grab a cup of coffee, a spot at your desk and hop on Google Hangouts. It is free, easy to use and can be a huge asset to your brand and business.

3. Get Out There: Commit yourself one or two days a week to working in your community. You never know who you might meet, especially in the creative industry. Creatives all over the globe are working out of coffee shops for the inspiration, change of scenery and caffeine fix. Set up shop at your favorite coffee shop a few mornings a week for some external inspiration.

4. Business Card Drop: This seems old school, but it can create amazing connections. Find a local coffee shop or cafe that has a business card display and leave a handful of yours. You never know who is filing through business cards while waiting for their latte. You never know who could reach out to you and be a resource for your business!

5. Find a Co-Working Space: If you are looking to separate from working from home and are looking for more ways to get involved with your community, join a co-working space. It will give you separation from your home office and provide you with an direct connection to incredible entrepreneurs and people in your industry.