Working from home with balance and efficiency in mind

With recent events taking place across the globe, we must find alternative solutions to manage our daily lives and adopt proper health and safety measures. This means working from home full-time when otherwise “programmed,” to a certain degree, to work in an office setting.

If this is something you can also relate to, take a look at this helpful guideline from Angela Wilson-Wright, member of the Associate Vice-President, Lifelong Learning and CCE Office, to find your rhythm while remaining efficient:

1. Maintain your usual workday rituals – Wake up as you usually would for work, dress in your work clothes, put on your shoes (yes even your shoes) and go about your workday.
2. Carve out a dedicated workspace – Find a space in your home that permits you to stay focused and steer clear from possible distractions.
3. Create a To Do list – Check what needs to be done and allocate sufficient time for each item on your list to complete by the end of the day.
4. Use all in your arsenal of communicative tools – Use all the tools at your disposal, such as the phone, Zoom for video conferences, or e-mail to convey your message effectively.
5. Establish your availabilities – If you are used to having colleagues “dropping in on you” or, conversely, if you are dropping in on them, pick up the phone instead to retain a sense of normality.
6. Collaborate to get the job done – If your To Do list is dependent on the work of others, be sure to organize what you need, from whom and when, and communicate with them accordingly to safeguard any potential delays.
7. Do not neglect your lunch hour – Have a bit to eat, get some fresh air (keeping your social distance in mind) and complete your errands as you usually would if at the office.
8. Prevent social isolation – Use Zoom and other video platforms to remain social and stay connected virtually with colleagues.
9. Separate work and home activities – Set boundaries with family members to keep interactions to a minimum during “work hours.”
10. Reach out when needed – If you are unfamiliar with using remote technologies and equipment, do not hesitate to reach out to your colleagues and supervisors for support.
11. Be mindful of time – Although you may have more flexible hours, be aware of changing certain habits. For instance, cooking meals that are more time consuming instead of the regular lunches made from meal-prepping over the weekend.

We are all on this journey together. With a positive attitude, determination and willingness to challenge ourselves during these difficult times, we can march forward stronger than we were and feel a greater sense of achievement.  

Angela Wilson-Wright, Member of the Management Team of Lifelong Learning and CCE

As a faithful ambassador, Angela has served senior management of the university for over 30 years.  Her expertise lies within the realm of University governance, policy development, risk assessments, capital project development, and new to her portfolio, Business Intelligence and Knowledge Management Strategy for the emerging field of Lifelong Learning.

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