Splendid isolation or cast adrift?
Some of you will have been working from home for a while so the challenges and benefits of “splendid isolation” will already be familiar to you. But what if you and members of your team are finding it difficult and are all at sea in this new environment? We thought it would be helpful to share what we have learned from our own experience of remote working and from many of the people we work with. So here are 10 tips to help you to make remote working work for you.
Before I get started, I must acknowledge that there will be people for whom working at home is impossible or unbearable. Not everyone has the luxury of a separate home office/study. Working at home does not necessarily mean working in isolation. Many of us live with partners, children and babies, older relatives and others needing care, pets, etc. It’s quite likely you are home schooling, volunteering or maybe you would have loved the challenge of working from home but have been furloughed. Whatever your situation, we have developed some ways of making it work for us and I hope the points below will help you too.
1. Establish the workspace
Having an area that you can dedicate to work is important. Even if it’s not permanent, you need somewhere that you can keep resources and a computer screen. Think about how the light is going to be different during the day and how the temperature changes. Even though we get used to working from a laptop, it’s important to have an ergonomic set-up. Where possible, go for a larger, higher screen, with separate keyboard and mouse. Don’t forget a comfortable chair for the length of time you will be seated. At times I place my laptop up high so I can stand and work. This helps my back, neck and legs have a change of position.
2. Family respect
Perhaps the biggest additional challenge the Covid-19 lockdown presents when working from home is the fact that many of us are confined to a home with other members of our household. We could be sharing with partners, children, elderly relatives, babies, roommates or pets etc. Even under ‘normal conditions’ we need to have mutual support within the household, respecting the times one or some of you are actually at work. When you need quiet time to work and others don’t have the same need, try to give warning or plan it around others.
3. Clearly agreed understanding
You will have to explain/agree what hours each of you are planning on keeping, which shared areas of the home are to be given over to work and the noise levels that are tolerable. When you are required to attend a phone or video meeting, pre-warn those who need to know. Perhaps a sign on a door to remind others? During the covid-19 lockdown agreeing to be present for meals with your family/household will help with your routine and well-being (more on this later).
4.Compromise
While not forgetting that for some people it’s impossible to work from home, it’s also important to remember that just because someone is working from home it doesn’t necessarily make them the most important person or the highest priority. There will need to be compromises made by all, even your employer. If your company wants or requires you to work from your home, then they too will need to accept some compromise.
5. Daily goals
We have found it helps to set yourself daily goals. This might sound obvious, but it’s very easy to find yourself with an unrealistic number of things to do. Regardless of where the additional workload might come from, if you had clear and realistic goals to start with, you can make better-informed decisions about when and how the work is to be completed.
6. It’s OK to say no
Some of you will take on too much, Maybe because you aren’t good at saying no, but just as likely because those asking don’t have the full picture of what you are doing. We all report to someone. Whether you are directly managed or are self-led, it may not be in your nature to say no when being asked to do more. For those of you working in a matrix organisation it can be particularly hard to say no when you feel you have responsibility within a number of areas. This requires a more flexible approach and will not suit everyone.
7. Routine of work rest and play
Regardless of work goals, your day needs at least a loose schedule. When are you working and when do you have coffee breaks and meals or take time to play and exercise? To establish a clear start and finish to the time you intend spending at work, and inform others in the house too, is very helpful. Have some protected time for family and relationships.
8. Health and well-being list
I have seen a number of people producing isolation well-being lists during the lockdown. These are a great tool, regardless of the reasons you are working from home. You will need to tailor a list to suit you, but here are some examples of items on a well-being list:
- Meditation
- Drink water (keep water at your desk)
- Manage what I eat (nothing between meals unless its fruit)
- Step away from your desk once an hour
- Chat with someone outside your home (ideally not work related)
- Do something to get your heart rate up
- Put phone to silent from 12.00 – 14.00
- Power nap
- Laugh
- Put all work material out of sight at 4pm
- Read something you want to read, etc.
9. Contact and communication
Make sure colleagues and clients/customers know your preferred method/platform for them to contact you. You should try to be flexible but indicate that you have a preference for a particular communication approach, and that you will be more easily reached in that way. Be clear about the time you might take to reply. The availability of email, for example, gives some people the impression you will be replying immediately.
That said, there will be people that you want to talk to regularly. Check what method they would prefer and what’s the best time of day to ask them questions or brainstorm etc.
10. Personal reward
Reward yourself – the chances are no one else will. Nobody has been watching over your shoulder and seeing how brilliant you are! When you finish a job earlier than planned, go sit in the sun with a cold drink for a while. If your Daily Goals have been completed early, recognise the achievement. When you have been working hard or maybe you missed a break, finish work early (assuming you can). Remember, one of the key benefits of working at home is the flexibility. If you know you have put the hours in at other times, take a deserved half day off (give warning to those that need to know). Choose a way to reward yourself, do it and encourage others to do the same.
We would love to hear what tips you would add to our list. If you found this blog interesting, you might like to read our Managing Remote Workers blog.
By Stuart Mander – Senior consultant at Berrison Ltd
If you would like to know more about how Berrison can help, please contact us: connect@berrison.com
