Staff advice for homeworking
Last updated: 28 October 2021 at 20:45
There are upsides to working from home - but there may be some challenges, too, including being unable to "turn off" after work, feeling disconnected, uninformed, lonely and struggling to stay motivated.
To maintain your wellbeing while working from home during the challenging and sometimes anxious times of this pandemic, apply the following top tips:
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Take care of you
Be conscious of your mental health and be kind to yourself. Build in some "me time" such as rest and relaxation, exercise, meditation, spending time with family, doing something you can safely enjoy. Eat well and stay hydrated. Ensure regular hand hygiene. See the "Other websites" section for some free resources.
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Act like it is business as usual
Follow a normal routine: get up, shower, get dressed for work. If you start to feel low when you realise a few metres is as far as you’re going today, find the upsides such as the flexibility you now have, working without being interrupted, having space to think, avoiding a packed commute and so on.
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Create a work space
It will really help with productivity and being in it signals to those that live with you that they should give you some space. A dedicated space helps in being able to "arrive" at work and then "leave" once your work is done.
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Create a routine that works for you
If keeping to the same routine works for you, do it. Or if you’re more motivated, productive and creative earlier or later in the day, or in blocks of two hours with breaks in-between, for example, then do what works best for you (though be sure to be available when colleagues expect to be able to contact you).
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Draw on your willpower
Sitting down to complete a challenging task when you’re on your own can be tough, especially when hovering in the corner is the opportunity to catch up on the box series everyone seems to be watching. Turn off distractions and enjoy the quiet time to think and focus.
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Lose the guilt
Many people find it hard to focus when working alone and remotely. Make sure you’re clear what you’re supposed to be achieving, then write down a manageable to do list for each day (get the least enjoyable tasks out of the way first), take one step at a time and cross them off the list.
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Refocus
If you lose focus and motivation, avoid pushing on at all costs; put the washing on, focus on something else for a while. Reward an unpopular task with an enjoyable one. Take breaks: jog on the spot, run up and down the stairs a few times, walk around your garden, go for a run, walk the dog - anything to recharge you.
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Establish a virtual support group
Connect with colleagues who are also working at home as well as those back in the organisation. Perhaps have a certain time of day when you all dial in to catch up, talk work and socialise. Schedule in regular meetings with your line manager, colleagues, others. Using video conferencing will give you a sense of some form of human contact.
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Reward yourself
Celebrate achievements such as finishing a piece of work with a short break/drink/treat (watch the extra snacking though!). Work on your self-confidence; with no one around you to provide feedback and positive reinforcement, you will need to access your ‘inner cheerleader’ to give yourself some positive affirmation.
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Take care of the community
If you’re fit and healthy, find ways to support others locally who may be unable to leave their homes by helping with their shopping or just with a friendly chat over the garden gate. This can provide a great sense of achievement and something different from the day to day (you might find you race thorough your day job to then do this).
A selection of wellbeing resources can also be found in the "Other websites" sectionare now available for free for NHS staff, along with other free to access support apps and websites.