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Working from home – the new normal? By Pa Modou Faal
If your usual place of work is the office, it is likely that you have been asked to work from home in recent times due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown. No doubt, you have found it a both challenging and rewarding experience. It might be that, as a result of this adaptation to the way we work, some organisations may look to continue with more roles working remotely either on a semi or more permanent basis. Here are some useful tips to consider: It is important to evaluate how well your environment suits your needs. Your home working space should follow the same standards as any office environment. Ask yourself the following, and if the space still needs improvement, address it as quickly as possible: • • • • •
Are your desk and chair comfortable, or are you experiencing any back problems? Ensure that you are not facing the camera with a window behind you as colleagues may have difficulty seeing you. Are your cables tidy and out of the way so they don’t present a trip hazard? Do you know where to find files and other paperwork easily and quickly? Are you taking breaks or lunch at your desk? If so, change your environment when you are taking time out.
Human beings are social animals, so working from home may have taken some getting used to. You may have found ways to cope with feelings of isolation or you may still be struggling. Keeping to a schedule is important for our wellbeing so if you are finding that you are ‘out of sorts’, consider the following: Wake up at your usual time. Granted, you won’t have a commute ahead of you, but you’ll need enough time for your morning shower, breakfast and any personal tasks before you start your working day. Don’t roll out of bed and straight onto your computer or work calls. You’ll feel disorganised and this will come across to others. Even though you are not in an office, wear something smart casual during working hours. This does not mean that you have to wear a suit when working from home, but day clothes will help you to start your working day mentally focused and ready. If you do not have office furniture like an adjustable chair, try using things like cushions to support you in your chair, or a box as a footrest. While it might be tempting to sit on the sofa, it is much better to sit at a desk or table. Give yourself time to concentrate on something else so
you feel more focused when you return. Let your friends and family know that even when you are working from home, you are unavailable for visits. Say you will return their calls and emails after working hours. Hydrate throughout the day to maintain mental focus but avoid consuming too much caffeine. It can be tempting to tidy the house, do the dusting or throw the laundry in while you’re working. Housework can wait and do not be tempted to use your lunch hour to do the chores! Many people enjoy social media and it can be tempting to log on for ‘just a minute’ to check for updates. Ensure that your favourite websites are not open during the day and if you receive updates to your personal email account, disable them during working hours. Update your online office diary every day and ensure that your colleagues have access to it. You and your co-workers may all be working from home but it’s important that you all know when you’re unavailable due to conference calls. Connect with your manager and colleagues during the day – even a quick ‘hello’ can help you to feel a part of office life. If you have the IT systems in place, you and your team might also choose to have face-to-face contact via video conferencing. Coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed everything, and we have all had to adjust to new ways of living and working. Working from home means you might be spending a lot more time without moving your body. If you’re feeling stiff or tense, try doing some light stretching or exercise with our 10-minute home workouts. Follow your normal sleep and work patterns if you can and stay consistent. You may be continuing to work from home for a while, so think about ways you could improve how you work while at home. Even just 5 to 10 minutes of short breaks each hour can really help your productivity too. If you have a garden, could you work there if the weather’s warm? Remember, this is an unusual situation and things will not feel normal! Be kind to yourself and acknowledge that you might not be as productive as you usually would be. Be realistic about what you can achieve given the circumstances and relax when your work is done. When you finish for the day, shut down your workspace for the night. Get out for a walk, working from home does not mean that you do not have a personal life. Do not forget the NHS guidelines to set up your workspace correctly, as much as you possibly can.
