Corona Virus and Remote Work

If there is one thing we are all learning from the Corona Virus pandemic is that life can happen in an instant and we need to be prepared and adjust accordingly.

While many organisations have implored their staff to stay home and work from home, some have been given compulsory leave.

Thankfully at Anakle, we have always had the option of remote work twice in a month, so it was easy to transition to full remote work. We only had to put incentives and processes in place to set the ball rolling and manage expectations.

You may have realised that the idea of working from home seems nice and good, but in reality, getting much work done from home is not as easy as it sounds.

Here are some strategy hacks to manage this situation:

Exercise and eat well
Stocking up your house this period and spending more time at home will create the urge to eat more than usual. Since eating healthy should be the goal, take out time to create a meal plan, stock up on healthy foods and fruits that boost your immune system. Exercise has been known to not just keep you fit and healthy, but it also activates your day. So, incorporate exercise routines such as squats, jumping jacks, planks, yoga, etc. in your day.
Dress up and show up
Mindset is everything, so dress up for work every day and show up. Only this time, it will be in your home workspace. Observe personal hygiene and take your bath early, wear clothes that are comfortable at home yet don’t make you think of your bed.. Creating an environment for productivity requires deliberate actions that may seem simple but are powerful when carried out.
Create a formal workspace
There is a feeling home gives – rest. At a time like this, it may be a bit difficult to get into the office “feel” and get some work done. So rather than give up on getting serious work done, create an enabling environment to hit your goals. You can create an enabling environment with a simple arrangement of your space, get a comfortable table and chair and choose a good spot that is well ventilated but has minimal distraction.
Use Productivity apps
Download productivity apps like Slack, Miro, Calendar and To-do List to keep you aware of your goals for each day and stay connected to your colleagues. Some of these productivity apps like Dropbox or Google apps allow you to share information with a group of people and get feedback from each of them on the same document.
Connect with community(safely)
Due to the unexpected change in routine, it is evident that boredom will come knocking. So rather than cave in and let in negative thoughts that could lead to depression, reach out to your family, friends and community for support and talks. With social media apps and other apps like Zoom, you can keep in touch with your community in spite of the distance.

Finally, I will also add that we engage ourselves with as many challenges as possible to keep active. This is not the time for complacency but a time for learning and development. Take an online course, learn a new skill, find a healthy balance between work and play and enjoy the challenges.Some of the current trends all over the internet like push-up challenge, book challenge, DIY’s, etc. can be quite beneficial.On my Day 2 of remote work, I learnt how to satisfy my cravings for parfait by learning to do it myself.

I will leave you with this word by Jim Rohn which you can apply as you deem fit.

“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you will fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.

Adaobi Anaesiuba

People and Culture Lead