Wellbeing in the Workplace: How to Stay Connected Whilst Working From Home
Welcome to Be Your Own Date - a space dedicated to all things self-care and wellbeing. If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to take a look at my other posts; I hope you’ll like them and find them useful too! I am building a collection of thoughtful articles, tips and resources for you to tap into and to uplift you, as well as to get you thinking.
For the second post in the Wellbeing in the Workplace series, I reflect on my experience working from home (WFH), for well over a year, since the onset of the global pandemic. I also consider lessons learned that enable me to work remotely in a healthier and more sustainable and connected way.
I had already experienced working from home in the past, for example when I worked in Executive Search, but never for such a sustained period of time before and certainly not under these circumstances. I'm sure that you can relate! So, keep reading if you’re interested in prioritising and enhancing your wellbeing at work, whether you work for a company or run your own business. I am going to focus on staying connected, highlighting strategies to help you feel good and to avoid feeling disconnected or lonely. It's strange because we can be connected in the literal sense, plugged into the VPN or typing away and answering emails on our preferred device, but that does not necessarily mean that we feel connected with other people - our colleagues, friends and family.
If you work in health and social care, particularly mental health care, I also urge you to read my first post in this series, offering guidance on how to look after your own mental health and wellbeing. Let me know what you think.
How to Stay Connected Whilst Working From Home
Stay connected with friends, family and colleagues | Graphic by Amy-Jo Lynch
WFH: Mixed emotions
No more commuting; no more small talk about the Great British Weather; no more ridiculously priced meals on your break because you didn't/couldn't be bothered to pack your lunch the night before; and the opportunity to save more of our hard-earned money. These are just a few of the absolutely wonderful benefits of working from home, right?! On the other hand, and on a more serious note, the pressure to try and work as normal, particularly at the start, was very unsettling at times. Yet, it is extremely clear to me, just how much of a privilege it is to be in a position to be able to work, giving purpose and structure to my day. And for that, I am most grateful.
Like many of you, over the past year or so, I have spent the time thinking about what I would like to achieve in the near (and distant) future, as well as how I plan on getting there...the journey is also part of the fun! Starting this blog was definitely one of my goals and I am truly loving the journey to building a platform around my passions. It feels ever so good! Now, more than ever, quality of life is hugely important to me. Prioritising my wellbeing and self-care forms a big part of this - that is to demonstrate self-love, looking after myself and attending to the different areas of my life, from eating healthier options to staying on top of my personal finances.
What I'm most proud of is my ability to stay on top of my work and adapt to this new way of working, as well as addressing the different challenges that it has thrown up. Things like not having access to a printer to proofread large documents or not being able to quickly check-in with a colleague to clarify a point. Here's to larger monitors, Microsoft Teams, remaining calm under pressure and balancing taking the time to complete tasks yet still meeting deadlines!
5 Simple Ways to Stay Connected
Maintaining personal and professional connections facilitate working from home | Image by Amy-Jo Lynch
Working remotely, or alone as a small business owner or solopreneur - love that word, doesn't haven't have to be lonely. Here are 5 simple ways to stay connected - physically and emotionally - for you to consider:
Message/video call colleagues - reach out just to say 'hi' now and again, it doesn't always have to be work-related.
Embrace your social networks online - there is no escaping that we live in a digital age and rather than fight it, I embrace it, so long as it doesn't replace meeting up in person.
Be intentional and set dates to meet up with friends and family - reach out to your loved ones and start planning what to do, where to do it and when. No vague messages like, “see you soon”. Enjoy being in a different environment, away from your screen, and simply having fun outside of work. Only meet with people you actually feel excited about seeing - no more doing things for the sake of it!
Write a letter - Don't look so confused! Yes, put pen to paper and surprise someone special in your life. Better still, go to your local Post Office, rather than your nearest postbox, and have a quick chat with the staff while you're at it. This may also be a good way to build your confidence as you ease yourself back into your community, especially if you have been hesitant to do so until now. It's also a great opportunity to get moving again, more and more.
Change up your location - take your laptop with you to your local coffee shop, restaurant, library or [insert favourite place here] and support a local business/your local services.
Tip: All of the above will be even more effective if you set boundaries around working from home, so that it does not consume your entire day, leaving you too exhausted to enjoy other activities. I know, easier said than done, but start with a time to switch on and switch off. Be strict about it. Please! See if you can find someone to help hold you to account.
It turns out that our productivity and job satisfaction can be just as good, if not better, whilst working from home. That said, the need to be in the company of others and to feel connected is deep within us all. I hope that opportunities for a more hybrid way of working will be the way forward - a mix of working in your office and at home. However, if your office and home are one and the same, give more thought to taking breaks away from your home. Look out for the next post in this series, where I will share my experience making the transition back to working in the office and more useful tips to consider.
Tell me, have you taken the time to think about how connected you feel lately? How would you rate this on a scale of 1 (hell no) to 10 (hell yeah). If you feel comfortable sharing, let me know how you scored and why in the Comments section below.
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Curious to know more? Read about my unique approach, personalised coaching programme and what to expect while we work together.
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Be kind to yourself. Be Your Own Date.
~ Amy-Jo ☀️
