Tag Archives: Work From Home

Mar22

Working From Home: 4 Tips On How To Maintain A Work/Life Balance

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Working From Home: 4 Tips On How To Maintain A Work/Life Balance

We’re past the one year mark when WHO declared the Coronavirus a global pandemic. In March last year, countries asked businesses to let their employees work from home. This is in order to encourage self-isolation and help mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus. A year later, many of us are still working from home. For a lot of people, this arrangement means an abrupt and uncomfortable merge between work and home life.

Our home should be a place of relaxation – that means an escape from work and other social responsibilities. This is why a lot of people have more difficulty finding “work/life” balance in a work from home setting. It feels like losing respite from work related tasks. 

Are you starting to feel like your whole week has turned into one long Monday? You are not alone. Here are some tips to reclaim your personal space and restore a healthy “work/life balance”.

Carve out a physically separate working space for yourself

Not everyone can afford a home office. It’s even an issue of readiness for some who have just been abruptly asked to work from home and have been making do with a laptop and the dining table as a workstation. If this is your work arrangement, it could get tiresome to have to pack-up before each meal and set up after. If you have limited space, work with folding furniture. Get a small folding table and a chair that offers decent back support. Then carve out a small niche in your home to dedicate as a working area. Having a dedicated work space will get you in the “going to the office” mindset. 

Have standard work hours

Set up a time to start working and to close shop and follow that schedule STRICTLY. It helps if you have a routine. Just because you’ve slashed two hours off our commute doesn’t mean you can lounge around until 5 minutes before your first meeting of the day. Set an alarm to help you get up at the same time each day and do your routine. Don’t work in your pajamas. Take a shower and get dressed. Dressing up for work will affect your state of mind and help you signal to your body that it’s time to take care of business.

Never work from your bed

That’s it. That’s the tip. Never work from your bed. It’s unprofessional and will affect your mindset. 

Air and sunlight is good for all living things

Being cooped up indoors is enough to drive anyone insane. That’s the whole premise of The Shining. So go out and get some fresh air and natural light EVERYDAY. Unless, you want to end up like Jack Torrance, Jack Nicholson’s character in the movie. Open the windows and let some fresh air through. Go for a walk. Water your plants. Sip your coffee/tea out on the balcony. Get your daily dose of vit. D naturally by aiming for 10-30 mins of sunlight exposure. 

Do you have any tips on how to achieve a work/life balance while working from home? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp

Mar15

Is It Wise To Vent In The Workplace?

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Is It Wise To Vent In The Workplace?

Maybe today is the day when you’re about to join a Zoom meeting and the neighbors decide to practice their drumskills. Maybe today is the day when your internet connection decides to get persnickety. Maybe today is the day that a project deadline has been moved up by a few days. In short, maybe today is not your day. 

Most of us take a moment to vent. The instant release of emotion, afterall, is an acceptable way of coping with this particularly frustrating scenario, right? You take all of 5 minutes to vent, and then return to work and go about your day. 

We can all agree that venting is a healthier option than keeping all your feelings inside. It’s different from complaining because complaining tends to be chronic, while venting is temporary and situational.

We all have good and bad days in the workplace – be it in the office or working from home. Sometimes, you just want to scream into an empty office or ping a colleague to talk about your frustrations. However, is there a way to vent responsibly that won’t land you a visit to the HR department? These are the dos and don’ts of venting in the workplace.

Don’ts

Don’t use group chats or office communication. Many workplace horror stories have been told about sending messages to the wrong recipient. Imagine how awkward it would be to complain about the behavior of a colleague and accidentally send it to that colleague. Also, be careful about email communications. Your IT department has access to internal communications, so don’t send something that could result in serious implications for your role or work relations. 

Don’t vent to just about anybody who is within earshot. Choose who you talk to. Ven to someone you trust and not the intern or the gossip girl from that other department.

Do’s

Document your emotions. Journaling is scientifically proven to reduce stress. Writing down your feelings on paper makes them a bit more tangible and less abstract. It also makes them more actionable. 

Vent with a non-work friend. Video call a friend and ask if they have the time and mental space for a quick chat to vent. Always ask if they have the bandwidth to help you through. Venting with a non-work friend removes the possibility of accidentally sending an incriminating message to the wrong party. 

Get up and walk away from your desk. It’s time to take a breather. Take a few minutes to breathe and gather yourself. When people are stressed, their breathing quickens. Being mindful of your breathing will help you relax and think more clearly. Stepping away from your desk also helps you relax and less inclined to throw your coffee mug at a wall out of frustration.

How about you? How do you handle frustrations in the workplace? What are your venting techniques? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp

Feb8

4 Tips on How To Improve The Flow Of Your Home Office

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4 Tips on How To Improve The Flow Of Your Home Office

Many people have been working from home since last year due to the government imposed lockdowns. In fact, 41.8% of the American workforce continues to work remotely. A lot of those don’t have formal workspaces set up at home and have to quickly adjust their homes to accommodate the new work arrangement.

Are you one of those people whose workspace consists of a laptop in one corner of the dining table? Or are you a work from home veteran trying to spruce up their home office? Everyone needs a comfortable and functional workspace. Working from home might be our reality until the global pandemic crisis gets solved. This is why you have to make an effort to make sure that your workspace can inspire you to do your job well. After all, your environment influences how you do your work.

Let’s face it, the corner of the dining table doesn’t leave any room for personalization. The reality of this arrangement is that you’re likely to move your work to another spot while the dining table is being used for…dining. Then you have to haul your laptop, notes, and pens back after you clean up. The first thing to do to improve the flow of your home office is to actually have a home office. It doesn’t need to be fancy. Just carve out a quiet space away from distractions and set your laptop up on a table and get a comfortable chair. If you already have that, here’ are the rest of the tips:

  1. Personalize it!
    A sense of personalization actually helps improve your productivity. Personalization increases happiness and job satisfaction, therefore increasing productivity. But don’t go putting your children’s art on the wall just yet. Choose objects that you love looking at but would add beauty and function – a nice pen holder perhaps, a beautiful lamp, a vase full of flowers, colorful office supplies, you get the idea.
  2. Keep work and play separate.
    This is the number one challenge of working from home – how to successfully keep work and personal life separate. This is why you should set your workspace up in a part of your home with the least distractions. Make it clear to everyone you share your home with that you are not to be disturbed when you are in that space. If space is tight, get creative. I have seen some Pinterest pins of closets that have been converted into tiny home offices. Check those out for inspiration.
  3. Design with productivity in mind.
    Take advantage of lighting and color to productivity. If you’re lucky enough to set up near a window, take advantage of natural light. When you personalize your space, consider color. Here’s an interesting read about how color can improve your productivity.
  4. Declutter.
    Clutter not only affects your surroundings, but it also affects your mindset. Your focus is always on the constant attack if your environment is messy. So get rid of clutter.

Do you have any tips on how to improve your home office? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp

Jun22

How to Run Successful Video Calls: Your Burning Questions Answered

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How to Run Successful Video Calls: Your Burning Questions Answered

In today’s work climate, both newbie and veteran work from home employees have most likely replaced their face-to-face meetings with virtual meetings through video conference calls. Even WFH veterans would agree that they sometimes prefer just taking voice calls, especially since the probability of a child walking in on your weekly sales meeting is relatively high.

Since a lot of employees can’t go to face-to-face meetings, video conferencing has taken its place. There are a lot of benefits to video calls as opposed to regular voice calls. It can add a personalized touch to conversations because you can read facial expressions and some body language. It also keeps team attention in check.

However, it’s not easy to figure out the best practices when it comes to video conferencing. Employee manuals don’t exactly detail video conferencing protocols so we’re all left to our devices to figure out what’s taboo and what’s appropriate.

So, when is it appropriate to use video calls instead of voice calls?

  • If it’s a one on one meeting
  • When you’re giving/getting positive or critical feedback
  • If the issue needs a lengthy explanation
  • When you’re taking a temperature check on a team project and would like to know how everyone is tracking
  • When you’re introducing yourself to a partner, a team, a client, or a customer
  • When you’re introducing a partner or a team member to others

What tools should I use to run a successful video call?

  • A good microphone or headset: This is the minimum standard for all forms of communication, be it voice calls or video calls. One must have a good microphone or headset. Most headsets already have microphones built-in. The professional ones have volume controls, a mute button, and noise cancelling features. While all laptops already have a microphone and speaker built-in, you might want to get yourself a headset so that the other side of the conversation isn’t broadcasted throughout your house or co-working space.
  • A webcam: This separates a voice call from a  video call. Most laptops also have a built-in webcam but if you’re using a desktop PC, you might want to invest in a good quality webcam. Look for one that has autofocus and glare reduction features. Make sure to place your webcam in a well-lighted area but don’t place it against the light as your image will come across as dark and grainy.
  • A video conference platform: Zoom, Microsoft Teams, GoTo Meetings, Skype, WebEx, Google Meet, BlueJeans, Zoho Meetings, and RingCentral are just a few of these super-powered video conferencing platforms that can host multiple participants one video call. Features such as screen sharing and file sharing make it easier for teams to collaborate on a project.
  • A reliable internet connection: WFH employees should have a wired internet connection. Company information should not be accessed over an unsecured internet connection such as public Wi-Fi networks.

What should I wear?

Let’s face it, most of us are working in our pajamas right now. But for important calls and client calls, you should dress up and dress appropriately. You can always change out of it after the call. What are your video call best practices? Let us know in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp

Mar30

Coronavirus Quarantine Preparations Part 3: How to Stay Healthy While Working from Home

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Coronavirus Quarantine Preparations Part 3: How to Stay Healthy While Working from Home

As the pandemic situation worsens, a lot of employees are being told to work from home to limit social interaction and help #flattenthecurve. While many of us are taking vitamins and boosting our immune system like crazy, we might forget that our mental health is also important.

Our health can take a downturn when we’re cooped up in a house for a long period of time. We are social creatures, and keeping a social distance is highly unnatural for us. However, it is essential during these times. In this light, here are some important mental health practices that you can do while you’re on self-quarantine:

Setting a schedule and taking breaks
Now that most of us are working from home, it could be hard to draw the line between work and personal time. The line where work ends and your personal time begins can be blurry. It is extremely important for you to assign a “core schedule”. This is a period of time where you start work and stop working (for example 9am to 6pm). Stick to this work schedule as much as you can. Set yourself an alarm for a “hard-stop” where you must walk away from work and leave it for tomorrow.

Remember to schedule breaks throughout your workday. Just like on-site work, two 15 minute breaks and a lunch break can refresh your body and mind and improve your productivity and focus.

Sleep
The blurry boundaries between work and personal time can wreak havoc on your sleep schedule. You might not be able to leave your work stress at the office because home is now the office. To combat this, you must practice proper sleep hygiene. Studies show that having a consistent routine of waking up and going to bed at the same time each day, helps regulate your sleep schedule. Also, don’t work from your bedroom so that you don’t associate it with work. Have a separate work area. You’re also probably chugging a lot of coffee so watch your caffeine consumption. Experts advise to stop drinking coffee at least seven hours before bed.

Exercise and fitness
It is scientifically proven that too much sitting can lead to a lot of health complications. So, try to pencil in workouts into your work from home schedule. Take advantage of online workout classes. Don’t forget to set yourself a reminder to get up and stretch once every hour.

Stock your pantry with healthy snacks and meals. You can’t go wrong with leafy greens, whole grains, and fresh fruits and veggies. Stock up on foods that are fortified with vitamins A, B, C, and minerals Selenium and Zinc. Take note that you cannot get Vit D from supplements. You can only get it through sun exposure which could be extra challenging when you’re cooped up at home. If feasible, open a sunny window for a few minutes to get some sun exposure.

How do you stay healthy during a lockdown? We’d love to hear your staying healthy tips. Let us know in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp