By: Evangelist Patricia A. Schley
I never worked remotely, but always wondered what a working from home arrangement would be like. As the COVID-19 pandemic suddenly afflicted our region, and state Governors requested all residents to stay at home, I suddenly became a remote worker, along with thousands of others at Jefferson.
At first, the transition to working from home was challenging. When I worked in an office, I was able to quickly locate whatever I needed to assist me with my day-to-day tasks. At home, I had to learn how to work in an entirely virtual environment. In retrospect, I appreciate the efforts our team made to prepare for a potential work at home scenario because a different environment can make a big difference. I miss seeing smiling faces of people in and outside of my office suite. I surely won’t take these treasures for granted anymore.
After organizing my home office, I reached out to my teammates to see how they were coming along with this unexpected transition. We use online tools to communicate and to help each other get through these trying times. I am glad I can support them, and they support me.
I’ve learned a lot in my last two weeks as a remote worker. Here are a few tips that helped me along the way:
1. Take a deep breath and exhale. Be mindful of the media you are consuming; it can clog your mind with negativities and fear. Put on some relaxing music to help you think and prioritize your daily tasks. Focus on creating a positive environment.
2. Select the perfect place to anchor down. If you do not have an office at home, you’ll need to find a comfortable space to set up your new “office”. If you and other family members are working at home together, consider establishing guidelines for your shared work environment. My husband and I established spaces where we could work separately and effectively after realizing that we could not work in the same room. If you have children at home, other rules may need to be in place. Each household is different.
3. Take breaks throughout the day. You may have to set an alarm to remind you to get up and stretch at regular intervals during the day. You can walk around your home while talking on the telephone with co-workers. Be sure to take your lunch break in a separate area to spend time away from your emails. Try to get outside to take in some fresh air (don’t forget to take precautions). Taking breaks enables your body to refresh and can increase your productivity when you return to your work.
4. We are all in this together. Working remotely from home can be a challenge, but please do not feel like you are in this alone. Take a break and reach out to someone who will encourage you to “keep it moving”. It is okay to lean on each other (from at least 6 feet apart). Treating everyone with respect and fairness has never been more important than it is now.
To our brave colleagues that are fighting this pandemic on the front lines – we’ve got your back. For everyone at home, I hope that these tips will encourage you to adjust and embrace the change. This pandemic made an extreme change in all of our lives, but it’s up to us to make our environment reflect the values we uphold. If you have not communicated with your co-workers, family, or friends since the stay-at-home orders were issued, take time to reach out and encourage someone today. I hope my encouragement reaches all of you – You got this! Keep it moving!
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