COVID-19 has forced a new way of life upon many of us where working from home full-time has become the new reality that we never expected during our careers. This new arrangement has become a welcome and comfortable change from normal work routines for many individuals, but for others it’s been a struggle in finding ways to remain productive when home life offers numerous distractions.
Working from home can be a lonely exercise in this era of social distancing and the temptation during work hours to catch up on chores, play with the kids or binge watch something on Netflix while occasionally checking work e-mails is ever present.
Successful careers are based on developing certain traits or habits that have proven to be beneficial, and here are some helpful tips that can help you stay attuned with those practices while working from home.
• Keep Your Morning Routine: Set your alarm for the usual time and follow your usual routine as you always have.
• Set Specified Start and End Times: If you normally get to the office and start working at 8:30 a.m., then make that your start time every day. You should also have a set stop time as well. Be mindful that the barrier between home and office blurs so you often end up working more hours than expected if you don’t set a time to cease working each day.
• Designate a Separate Work Space: It’s wise to set up a place where you will work every day and do all you can to keep it away from potential distractions, such as a television. Even if you carve out a corner of your bedroom to work, make sure everyone in the house knows this is your work space and request that you remain undisturbed as much as possible during each workday.
• Always Be Available and Responsive: It’s especially wise while working at home to be as responsive to the needs of your coworkers as possible during work hours. Not being instantly available can arouse suspicion as to what you’re really doing at home while out of sight from your supervisors. Being instantly available during this time provides you a great opportunity to prove that you’re trustworthy and focused on your job.
• Keep Regular Meetings: If your team has regular meetings through video these days, be sure you continue to attend those get-togethers. It’s important to check in with colleagues regularly to make sure everyone’s doing well and able to handle their workloads.
• Work Arrangement: If you ordinarily work with multiple computer screens at the office, you may want to invest in a second or third screen at home as well. Some individuals have arranged to bring home their entire office setups, docking station and all, while others have invested in removable screens that hook to their laptops. You should try to replicate the setup that you have in the office.
People who believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should contact their health care provider immediately. If you are ill with flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath, please call your health center or clinic before coming to your appointment. At Eskenazi Health, please call 317-880-7666 before coming to your appointment. Health care professionals are available 24/7 to answer questions on symptoms and direct you to the most appropriate care. It is important to first call before arriving at Eskenazi Health.
Dr. Nydia Nunez-Estrada
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine
Eskenazi Health Center North Arlington