Tips for Working from Home During Coronavirus
Working from home has quickly become a must for a lot of people. Consider the habits below to get the most out of the days you’re working from home.
Find a Workspace
Have a designated space to do your work. Turn a spare room into an office. If space is limited, find a desk or table that’s specifically for your work.
Maintain Regular Hours
Set a schedule, and stick to it…most of the time. Having clear guidelines for when to work and when to call it a day helps maintain work-life balance.
Set Ground Rules With the People in Your Home
Set ground rules with other people in your home or who share your space for when you work. Make sure any roommates, siblings, parents, spouses, and pets (well, maybe not pets) respect your space during work hours. If you have children, they may need clear rules about what they can and cannot do during that time.
Check your workspace ergonomics
A comfortable work space can help you feel your best. Make sure you have the ergonomics of your work space set up correctly, including correct chair height, equipment spacing and good desk posture. Download our Correct Sitting Posture to guide you through your set up.
Don’t Forget to Move
Get up regularly and move, it is good for your mental and physical health. Consider a standing desk, or why not taking a break every now and then to stretch or do some yoga poses. Your body will love you for it.
Schedule Breaks
Give yourself adequate time during the day to walk away from the computer screen and phone. Take your lunch and smaller breaks throughout your day.
Stay Connected With Colleagues
Loneliness, disconnect, and isolation are common problems in remote work life. It’s important to stay connected with colleagues. Figure out how much interaction you need to feel connected and included. Instant messaging and videoconferencing tools can make it easy to check in with coworkers and remind you how your work is contributing to the big picture.
Be Positive and Share Humour
When the whole office suddenly starts working from home, you’re cutting off a lot of the casual social interactions you’re used to having throughout the day. If you usually ask your coworkers about their weekends or specific hobbies, keep that up. These little interactions go a long way.
You can also schedule morning video call kickoffs with your team or make time for other check-ins throughout the day.
Lots of us are feeling anxious and uncertain right now, and suddenly being isolated at home can amplify these feelings. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a coworker just to ask how they’re doing.
It may take a while to get into the swing of things, however, be open to giving new things a go and hopefully soon enough you’ll find how you can be the most effective as possible when working from home. Here are some self-care questions to ask yourself at the start of each day.
Daily Self Care Questions:
- What am if grateful for today?
- Who am I checking in on or connecting with today?
- What expectations of ‘normal’ am I letting go of today?
- How am I getting outside today?
- How am I moving my body today?
- What beauty am I either creating, cultivating, or inviting in today?
