Some gentle tips to remote working... and what I've learnt.

For many years I have worked remotely. During my tenure at Plantronics before they became Poly, I managed the Sub Saharan Africa territory from South Africa. However, this all changed when we moved to the United States in 2015. I found myself in a shared office, looking for parking and always on the lookout for an open meeting room. The changeover was real, took some adjustments but somewhat found my feet and got back into the swing of things.

Fast forward a few years… and the introduction of Covid-19 and the strategy to allow employees to work remote while the State, Country, World tries to contain the situation.

Now we are a community of workers, pupils, teachers and Firstline workers having to figure out how to work and teach remotely. Something which many of us have attended webinars and seminars on, but never really put to practice. Not to mention how do we prepare our children for remote teaching; do they have what is needed?

So, what happened?

We panicked; store shelves were emptied. Stock markets continue to change, while toilet paper becomes a whole new currency. The demand for hand sanitizer increased, sales of vodka soared as people were looking for the next best solution for hand sanitizer.

However, while this was happening people are trying to figure out this “work from home/work remote” thing. What is needed to ensure a seamless environment, with little disruption and distraction to your work, our children's education all while trying to keep the lights on.

Some tips and tricks I have learnt during my time as a remote worker, which I still use today:

1) Avoid the snooze button - Do not be tempted to hit snooze or decide to sleep in. Stick to your normal routine of getting up and getting ready

2) Continue - Have breakfast, take your vitamins, and enjoy your morning coffee

3) Manage your distractions - Being home doesn’t mean you have time to do the laundry or unpack the dishwasher. The trick is to maintain your routine, leave those for the evening

4) Always be moving - We tend to forget we at home and you will find yourself sitting hours upon hours in the same chair and position. Get up, get mobile and move around.

5) Have the right equipment - Equipment is key to how you work from home. From the monitor to the audio device you use.

6) Fluids, Fluids, Fluids - Keep the fluids going, remember 2lts of water a day. The more fluids you have the better your concentration. Limit the amount of coffee and tea. (I know it’s easier to switch the kettle on and keep making cups, but don’t.)

7) During conference calls remember to - Enable video, Be on time, Allow people to complete their sentence and never interrupt, Be mindful of others and always be inclusive, If you need clarity, ask for it.

8) Cabin Fever - Get out of the house, even if for one hour. If you don’t you will find yourself suffering from cabin fever. Many coffee shops or restaurant have Wi-Fi allowing you to continue to work. Local restaurants could certainly do with your support right now, even if it is a quick sandwich ordered for pick up.

9) Anywhere is office - Being a remote worker doesn’t mean you have to be in the house to get the work done. It means that you have the flexibility to decide where its best suitable for you to work from. Looking for the best quiet spot to gather your thoughts, try going to a church. You will be amazed at the silence and the ability to gather your thoughts – personal choice of space for me.

10) Don’t Panic - A smart woman (my wife) once told me “we shouldn’t panic for the things out of our control.” The situation we find ourselves in today is not by choice, nor by design. We need to take each day as it comes, be positive and support our communities in any way we can

There are many articles roaming the web right now about what is right and what is wrong about working remotely. The reality is that you will find a rhythm for working remotely, you will get into the swing of things and you will continue to keep the lights on. The tough part is still waiting for you, which is going back to the office… ??