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Working from home - Top tips
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Working from home
Are you ready to work remotely?
Coping with sudden change.
We all deal with change in different ways and need to find what works best for us.
We have put together this short guide to help you to work from home .
Stages of reaction
Reactions
Change can be difficult because it can affect how we think, how we work, our relationships, how safe we feel and even how we see ourselves.
We usually react to change in four stages. Adjusting takes time and you will go through each stage in your own way. You may deal with each stage in a different way to others.
Stay connected
Microsoft
Teams
The key to working from home is clear communication with your manager – and knowing exactly what’s expected of you.
Out of sight, out of mind can be a real problem for home workers. Connect with your manager and colleagues regularly through a variety of tools.
Mencap has been ahead of the pack in terms of homeworking and so you may find that many of your colleagues are already set up for home working.
Skype
Yammer
Telephone
Email is our main way to communicate with colleagues to keep them up to date.
Make sure that you know how to send and receive emails. Report any problems via TopDesk.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is another way you can connect with your colleagues either through messaging, phone or video.
Skype
You can use Skype to make one to one calls or conference calls and you can communicate just as you do on the phone or use video.
There is also the option to message using Skype chat.
A guide to using Skype can be found on the IT Hub on My Mencap .
Yammer
Yammer is Mencap's internal social media platform.
This is where you can post a question to your colleagues for help or advice. You can share news and updates and contribute and support colleagues yourself.
There are lots of different communities that you can join or you can set up your own. There is a Home Based colleagues support group here too.
Don't forget the telephone!
Sometimes just dialing up your colleagues is the best way to connect so be sure to get the phone numbers for all your regular contacts.
Some tips to make homeworking work for you
Topic
If you’re not used to working at home, it can take some getting used to new challenges that you might not have at the office!
Here are some tips gathered from homeworkers that you may want to try...
Create boundaries within your home - make sure your housemates/family understand not to interrupt you.
Make a list of priorities each day.
Sit in an upright chair - don't be tempted to sit in bed reading or sending emails its bad for your neck and sleep patterns too!
Create a space just for where you will work - If possible only go to your work space when you are working.
Set the alarm each morning- don't be tempted to lie in!
Build a routine
The most common problem for people working from home is switching off after work.
Everyone works differently but try to establish a routine...
- Make sure you have a 20 minute break in the morning and the afternoon
- Have lunch - away from your workspace
- Get some exercise - ideally go outside even if it is just getting some air through a window.
- Don't be tempted to do your laundry or other household chores
- Turn off your computer and pack away your work at the end of the day
Making provision for having your children at home will present some challenges..
Even the best made childcare plans can sometimes go wrong!
With Coronavirus it is unclear how long people will be at home.
With children likely to be forced to stay home those with children need to negotiate with their managers on how childcare responsibilities can be balanced with work commitments.
Avoid feeling
isolated
The enforced and abrupt nature of the transition from an office to a home environment could leave some struggling to get accustomed to the change.
Celebrate team member birthdays and milestones such as anniversaries. Employ your video communications more than you normally would.
Make time to have social time over Skype or on Microsoft Teams with your colleagues - casual conversations and ' watercooler chat ' are just as important as work chat.
Stay positive.....
Negative headlines, worrying about loved ones and fighting the urge to go panic buying toilet paper can increase your stress levels to be kind to yourself....
If you start to feel lonely, consider setting up a support group of friends and colleagues who are also working at home. Make plans to meet virtually on a regular basis and share creative ways you've adjusted to the new situation.
Listen to music - studies show a blend of soft music and soothing nature sounds activates the calming part of the brain