Working from home - One year on

It has almost been a whole year since many of us packed up our IT equipment and headed home to work for an unknown duration. I remember discussing potential return dates with colleagues before we left and the person who guessed we would be at home the longest was still wrong by a considerable distance. So, as we have now been working from home for a lot longer than we could have originally imagined, how have things been and what have I learned?

I don’t know about you but I thoroughly enjoyed the “honeymoon period” that came with working from home. Setting up and getting used to new ways of working. Finding new channels of communication to allow information to flow freely and efficiently through the team and wider group. We put a lot of focus on ensuring service levels to our teams and clients were not affected by our new way of working. I’m pleased to say that I haven’t seen any drop in service levels.

For me, after the honeymoon period came the burn out phase. My diary was filling up with MS Teams meetings. Hours at the desk without a break were racking up. Many nights being late for dinner even though I was sitting upstairs. Taking time off, didn’t feel like I was taking time off. I think rather than working from home, I was living in work.

Then I came out the other side after identifying and rectifying some inefficiencies in my ways of working. I found more efficient ways to work on my own and as part of my team. I took more breaks away from the desk which has been good for my mental and physical health. In general, I am now happy working from home. But I have some things to remember and focus on moving forward:

• Check in on team members and others regularly. Keep an eye out for any burn out signs and actively promote a healthier work/life balance.
• Keep talking. The quick chats you used to have while in the office about sports, cars, holidays, hobbies and interests while having a coffee. Make time for them during your day. You need those little breaks.
• Remember you have a lunch break. You don’t need to sit at your desk and eat lunch. Maybe use that time to do something for your personal life, like pay a bill, check personal email, order something online, empty the dishwasher etc.
• Try and have a normal working day. Start at a regular time and always aim to finish on time. Of course like when we were in the office there are times when things come up and you have to work a little later. But don’t sit and work for the sake of working.
• Keep an eye on your personal life. Working from home should not have a negative impact on your personal life.
• Keep working on finding more efficient ways to work.

I’m looking forward to returning to the office when it is safe to do so, but if anything I can say that the last year has been a new experience, one I will never forget and I have learned a lot.

How have you found working from home and what have you learned?