Blog: Tips for Working at Home

1. Be aware of the power of the situation, and be kind to yourself and others

We should be aware of and repect the impact that this strange situation has on us, the other people in your office and other areas of college life, and on students.

It may not be possible to do everything we have always done in a normal semester. We must be careful not to underestimate the value of our time, and the resources available on campus, but ploughing ahead unthinking. Err on the side of being kind both to others and yourself.

2. Accept uncertainty

There are few things more stressful than 'not knowing', but there are many things we can't know for sure over these coming weeks. For many of us, we will have to learn to accept the lack of certainty around things a bit like we do the weather – you never know for sure what it will bring, and you can't do much about it in advance. We just take the few simple concrete steps we can do, and accept that as enough for now.

Keep in touch with family and friends, and set aside dedicated time during the day (even just a few minutes) to just sit quietly and relax.

3. Keep your distance, but keep in touch

Informal bumping into people is now not possible (and also a bad idea! No bumping, please, two metres!), so send a few group emails to arrange things and set aside time explicitly to sit down and chat with colleagues. Know that children, pets, and others may well be wandering through the call too.

4. Be aware that we don't know others' circumstances

Some people have a great home office and internet connection, others don't. Some have childcare responsibilities, others don't. Some will become ill or have to care for someone who is ill, others won't. This means that, as well as managing your own expectations, be very flexible with your expectations of others. Without knowing people's circumstances, it is paramount that we assume that everyone is doing their best.

5. Apply what boundaries you can (children or other responsibilities permitting)

Have something you do at the start of the day that makes it clear you are now 'at work'. It could be anything from making your bed, making a coffee, closing doors, and sitting down at a desk with your laptop.

Take a coffee break (see Tip 3!), and take a clear lunch break. At lunch, take a walk or watch an episode of a comedy or drama on television to avoid obsessing over the news or distractedly working while pretending to take lunch.

When done for the day, have something you do that makes it clear you are now 'not at work'. Shutdown the laptop, rearrange the table, open a door. Don't check email or other communications after this.

6. Structure your day

On campus, other offices' work times, classes, and similar things give us a clear structure to the day. This helps keep us focused on what it is we are supposed to be doing, and when things need to be done by. You'd be surprised how much we depend on these things, despite never thinking about them.

At the start of the day, try to make a list or schedule, and work through it – include coffee, lunch, and even breaks to get the laundry or housework done if that's on the list of things to do today.

7. Go outside for walk, cycle, or other breath of fresh air

You can still do this daily, and should do. Make eye-contact with people you meet, smile at them, chat. This thing does spread on words, it spreads by close contact. But keep at least 2 metres between you, and obviously stay within your 2km overall!

8. Get to know your supports

All of us are figuring this out as we go, but none of us is expected to do it by ourselves. Where you feel you need support, let people know – your office-mates or someone else on your team, your line manager, or the employee assistance programme.

Have a think about where you might turn for support, even if you haven't felt the need. Become familiar with what resources the College has made available so far, for students, and for staff. There are also solid pages of advice and support more generally, here are some prepared by psychologists for the RTE.

9. Have children? Don't super-parent

Children may be worth it, but oh boy, are they hard work. Scheduling in some dedicated time is essential, and don't be afraid to signal to your co-workers that you simply can't be contacted then. But when you need to check out and leave them in front of a screen for a while, do so without guilt.

Research in our own Department of Psychology backs up the broad consensus that screens aren't the devils they are often painted as. Maybe steer the content to the more educational sometimes, but if screens are an option for you, take the break when you need it.

10. Don't forget the basics!

Air and water!

Open a window. When the weather's this good, open all the windows! Keep the air in your home as fresh as you can, no need to let things get stuffy.

Stay hydrated, and don't over-caffeinate. Intersperse the tea and coffee with glasses of water.