Dr Lynda Sisson, HSE national clinical lead
For the last number of weeks and months we have all taken steps to mind ourselves and each other, to flatten the curve, to protect our health service and frontline workers and save lives.
Our actions have reduced the impact of COVID-19 on the country and our health service.
Many of us are working from home these days, and that’s going to continue for the foreseeable future. Working from home can be challenging but there are some simple steps to take to hold firm and protect your health and well-being.
Keep your work routine
Try to keep to your usual daily routine. Get to bed and get up at the same time as you usually do.
You won’t have much of a commute these days – think about something you want to do with that time. Of course, with children off school or other housemates around this is easier said than done but its important for everyone in the household that they know the routine.
Your work is important, you need to concentrate and be away from distractions. Make sure everyone in the house knows your working hours and how to respect you when you are working.
Set boundaries and disconnect
Try keep to your regular working hours. If you usually look forward to a tea break at 11am don’t change that.
These days some people working from home may feel pressure to work during the time they are usually commuting to their job. Remember, you’re not paid for your commute time. Beforehand you might have used that time to listen to podcasts, check in with friends or do a bit of daydreaming. That’s perfectly reasonable so keep that up.
Also remember to disconnect. If you finish work at say 5pm that’s the working day done.
Don’t fall into the trap of being ‘always on’. These are tough times. We need time away from work to connect with family and friends, to have quality time with children and to get a break for ourselves.
Work environment
You may not have the perfect workplace or equipment, but get a supportive chair, or consider a stand-up desk.
Find a space away from the main home area if possible. If you can, move your desktop to a place that has plenty of sunlight. Find spaces in your home where you can move around during the day, even if it just means taking a call from your phone somewhere other than at your desk.
Regular breaks and exercise
Every 25 minutes or so get up and stretch, go outside, go up and down the stairs, anything to move your body.
Taking breaks is good for your sanity and also ensures you are resting your eyes from sitting in front of a computer.
It also important to take proper meal breaks – away from the laptop – during the working day. This can be hard but even if you are working at the kitchen table, close the laptop and put it away when you are having your lunch or another meal.
Keeping in touch with friends and colleagues
We all need to talk to others and are used to chatting to colleagues in the workplace.
These days that’s different, but it’s probably even more important. Make sure to take the time to keep these friendships going when working from home. Take the time to check in with your colleagues, and not just about work, see how their family is doing, and how they are coping.
If you manage people this is particularly important. Let your team know that their health and well being is important at this time, not just their output. And don’t do this by email, it’s too associated with work practices – pick up the phone or schedule a video chat.
Ask for support
Before coronavirus many of us rarely worked from home. In recent weeks we’ve learned to ‘make do’.
However, if your employer is now planning for an extended working from home period then ask them for support. This could involve a good work station, employer-funded wifi, help with stress or burn out. Your employer has a duty of care to you.
If you are a member of a trade union they’ll have advice on how to approach this. If not, talk to colleagues to find out what people will need if they are working from home over the coming months.
