3 Tips to Stay Sane While Working From Home ~ By Drew
Working from home has been a necessary change for a lot of Canadians during this current COVID pandemic. In a survey released by Statistics Canada in July, nearly one-third (32.6%) of businesses reported 10% or more of their workforce was teleworking or working remotely as of the end of May. This number is nearly double when compared to Pre-COVID working conditions from earlier in the year. Additionally (and maybe more importantly), For businesses that indicate teleworking as potentially applicable to their workforce, just over one-quarter (25.2%) reported being likely or very likely to offer more employees the possibility of teleworking or working remotely once the COVID-19 pandemic is over, while 14.3% were likely or very likely to require it. All of which is to say that our working environment has changed significantly and is here to stay.
So, how do we prepare for the long haul of teleworking from the familiar surroundings of our home? Here are three basic tips that will keep us productive and (relatively) sane as we dig in an get used to the new normal.
1. Bring on the distractions – Now I am not talking about the kind of distractions that knock the wind out of your sails, like your kids coming in and out of your office looking for someone to play with. What I am talking about are those welcome distractions that take us away from work, giving us some respite before we dive back in again and keep on chugging towards our deliverables. So, welcome having the TV or radio on or fire up your favourite podcast. There might even be inspiration within those distractions.
2. There is an outside world – Working from home can feel pretty isolating, even with a full day of scheduled Zoom calls. I know that some of my favourite times at work has been lunch breaks with colleagues or even just connecting while making a cup of tea. We all need human connection every once in a while, to retain our sanity. Build some time into your day to get out of the house. Whether that be walking your dog, running errands, lunch date with friends or going to the gym. You will come back with a clearer mind and higher levels of focus.
3. Make your workspace your own – Not everyone can outfit their home with a fabulous workspace with all the same accoutrement as their old work environment. Seeing as how we are in this for the long haul however, we should consider bringing in as many creature comforts as possible. Grab those photos of your loved ones off the wall and set them up on your desk or bring them into your office. Arrange your Funko Pop collection and give your eyes something else to look at besides your computer screen. Bring in your diffuser and cast the wafting scent of your choice into your space. The point is that you can make this space truly your own and one that makes you feel most comfortable and somewhere you enjoy being.