Working from Home - Keep your sanity

Most people I know (with a few exceptions) are now working from home. While this may sound fantastic, it does have it's challenges and can sometimes require careful planning and use of available space to ensure sanity and efficiency.

We've just finished a 'planning' meeting at home. With 5 adults wanting to work from home, it requires some planning and discussion to ensure that we are all productive without being disruptive. It becomes even harder when a quiet working space is required. In our home, this is our scenario:

• I run a business and am talking often with customers while working on my computer.
• My wife is also talking to people daily, counselling and supporting them through the various situations they are dealing with.
• My eldest child teaches Psychology at a major university and teaches multiple classes in Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3.
• My second child is a Speech Pathologist (Therapist) and is doing consults via webinars and telephone.
• My youngest child is a 2nd year double degree uni student who needs a quiet space to 'attend' lectures.

So, you can appreciate now why planning was so vital today.

Here are some tips we can share (feel free to add what works for you also):

1. Realise that we're all in this together - One person's requirements do not take priority over the other.
2. Work out where in the house you will work. This is especially important as not everyone has a large house where separate work spaces can be setup.
3. Ensure that your workspace supports good posture, etc. Occupational Health is important.
4. Ensure that you internet can reach the areas you want to work in.
5. If you are going to share some spaces to work, setup a 'booking' system so that it's well used and space is respected.
6. Ensure that your equipment is fully charged and that you can work without power for a reasonable amount of time.
7. Agree on 'break' times - it's important that you talk with each other - this helps you reset and is also good for your mental well-being.
8. Set the Kitchen and Bathrooms as common areas - so it's usage should be respectful of the others working from home.
9. Ensure that someone is designated to attend to the pet (if you have one) as they will also need attention. (It's kind of hard to expect them to understand that you are WORKING from home).
10. Arrange a time (at the end of the day) to go for a walk in your yard or your street. You will need a change of environment to keep you sane.
11. If you have more than one family member working in the same company, be patient and respectful of their role and deliverable.

I'll stop there - You can add more.

This is going to be a challenging period. It's important to maintain a good balance. It will be important to exercise as well as stay healthy mentally.

There will be many stories to tell - on the other side of this. And if you have been stood-down, checkout this Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Covid-19-Support-Group-111458897160406