b'5 TIPS COVID-19 IS THROWINGa wrench in everyones plans. Potentially the biggest problem weve faced as a global industry is the stay-at-home orderswhenever possible, people across the globe have been asked to stay home to pre-vent the spread of COVID-19. Unfortunately, that extends to business. Whoever can work at home has been asked to work at home. For the United States, that is still in place in almost all states. And as most people have figured out by nowWorking from home is difficult! There are plenty of distractions, ranging from FOR WORKINGpets to children to housework. So how is it that people are able to work from home full-time? Seed World chatted with two experts who are old hands at working from home now to discuss what their top tips are for FROM HOMEmaking their work as productive as possible. Set a schedule and stick with it 1.Even though Ive had a home office for 13 years, DURING COVID-19 COVID-19 has still changed the game, says Todd Martin, CEO of the Independent Professional Seed Association. Previously, I was out visiting customers every day, or I could head out and grab a coffee when I needed to get out Experts share tips theyve learned fromof the office. Now, Ive had to set up a regimented schedule of working in the office.working at home full-time.Alex Martin Martin says he makes sure this schedule looks the same every morningfrom getting up at the same time, to putting on work clothes, to taking lunch at noon and closing up shop by 5 p.m. If I dont make a schedule, I drive myself bonkers, he says. Ill get really deep into work, skip lunch and forget to drink water. By the time my wife comes home from teaching, I havent seen anyone, I havent eaten and I havent taken any breaks. Michelle Klieger, president of Stratagerm Consulting, agrees: Figure out a schedule that works for you. Im a morning person, so I try to do all the hard things in the morning. Then, I schedule more calls in the afternoon, because this works best with my energy level.Create a designated workspace2.Many people will say get a desk, Klieger says. I didnt for over a year, because I wasnt sure if I was going to work remotely long-term, and I didnt want to invest in a desk until I was sure. However, even without a desk, I still had a place of my own to work.This environment needs to be a place where work gets done and distractions can be minimized. If you have the ability to make a dedicated office space, you should do it, Martin says. If you bring anything that isnt work into that space, such as online shopping or even video games, it tends to be easier to get distracted. Martin says for this workspace, its imperative to draw the line of whats work, and whats home life. That way, its a bit easier to minimize distractions.4/ SEEDWORLD.COMSEPTEMBER 2020'