6 Tips for Staying Well in the Transition to Working Remotely

 

  1. Establish clear working hours. Maintain routine as much as possible. Routine provides structure and promotes mental wellbeing by helping us to feel more in control of things. This helps us to cope and manage stress levels. Show up for work like you typically would, take your usual breaks. Start and end work at your regularly scheduled times to the best of your ability to avoid blurring work and home life.

 

  1. Tidy up first. Being in an untidy space can be distracting. Take time before and after work hours to tidy up and organize so that you don’t feel compelled or distracted by competing demands. Think about lunch and snacks the day ahead, pick out clothes the night before, identify the tasks that you want to accomplish that day first thing in the morning.

 

  1. Take a real lunch break and step away. Make sure that you take time to nourish your mind, body, and spirit. Have lunch away from your workspace, preferably in another room to have a more restful, mindful eating experience. For inspiration, check out the UBC Food Services nutrition blog.

 

  1. Stay connected to teammates. Working remotely can be isolating. Schedule at least one call, Skype meeting or even just a check-in email per day.

 

  1. Mindfulness. The practice of being present and in the moment is proven to enhance work performance. Namely in the areas of improved focus, concentration, memory and emotional self-regulation. Consider taking 10 minutes of your day to dedicate to mindfulness. One resource you can access (and learn more about the benefits of) is the 30 Day UBC Mindfulness Challenge. Mindfulness can be as simple as quieting your mind and focusing on your breathing for a minute.

 

  1. Microbreaks. Incorporate things like stretches, opening a window and getting some fresh air or stepping outside, check your phone, or take a snack break. One technique is to set a timer every 30 minutes as a reminder to reset so that you can recharge and refocus.