We know your new virtual work has been highly disruptive. But in the spirit of looking on the bright side, consider the following upsides of remote work.

You are working.

Let’s start with the obvious. Millions of people are out of work and applying for unemployment. For those of us who have the ability to work from the safety of our homes — albeit in less than ideal circumstances – deep gratitude is in order.

Focused work time.

When you sit down to work, it turns out you can get a lot done. Without the normal distractions of co-worker chatter, constant phones ringing and pointless meetings, you are able to be more efficient and productive. And chances are you are working on higher priority projects and your reshuffled workload is highly relevant and valuable.

Relaxed schedule.

Yes, the joys of working in sweatpants have been much celebrated lately. But it’s more than that. You have the flexibility to make your own schedule now. Many companies have created very relaxed hours to support parents who are supervising young children or school from home. Here’s a download with great tips for meetings.

No commute.

The average commute time is approximately 30 mins. That’s an hour a day you are not spending in your car that you can use for sleeping in, exercising, hobby or family time.

Cleaner environment.

Headlines appear every day about the positive environmental impacts of the worldwide quarantine. No one wants sickness, loss of life or economic collapse, but the reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved air quality are one silver lining.

Saving money.

No driving, no dry cleaning, no business travel. Yes, it’s a simpler life with fewer entertainment choices, but it’s also a less expensive one.

Great test case.

Maybe you were hoping to work virtually someday. Well now you know — in a worst-case scenario experiment –how it would work. You’ll know if you can be productive and work independently. You’ll know if you have the discipline to stick to a schedule, focus and get things done — with very little supervision. Take note of your accomplishments — it will be valuable when the world returns to normal.

Keep it up, virtual workers! If you’re looking for any additional tips and tricks about virtual work, check out PRC’s free online resource page for virtual teams.