As we all continue to use our homes as workplaces, here are some tips for managing the changes to our new work environment (excerpt from The Huffington Post):

• Make sure your workspace is quiet and away from distractions. Make certain you have good lighting, a comfortable chair and plenty of outlets to plug in your computer, monitor, phone charger, etc. Put everything you need close to you so that you don’t need to be searching to find a report, get supplies, etc. Maintain as much of an office-like environment as you can.
• Establish a typical office routine. Set your boundaries and develop a routine: wake up at the same time every day, take a shower, get dressed, etc. Keep as much of your non-work life as it was before the pandemic. Eat well, exercise and get fresh air—just remember to maintain a 6-foot distance from others.
• Practice self-care. Self-care is any proactive activity that we do to take care of our mental, emotional and physical health. While so many normal activities are disrupted, take some time to eat healthy, get enough sleep and maintain or start an exercise program.
• Increase communication. Try to maintain normalcy by setting up regular check-ins with your team or manager that allow you to provide progress updates, sort through problems or brainstorm ideas.
• Take breaks. In the office, there’s usually time for coffee breaks, lunch walks and chats with colleagues that give some breathing room from work. Just because you are working from home doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the same breaks. Get up and stretch, take deep breaths and look up from the computer at regular intervals. Remember to eat and check with your supervisor for permission to take a break for a quick walk.

For additional information or assistance, email Human Resources or call 863-874-8425.