telecommuting

Resolving Conflicts When Working From Home

By in Communication No Comments Tags: ,

Annoying_Text

When you’re working from home and you get into a disagreement with a coworker, it can sometimes be difficult to resolve it. It’s not possible to stop by your coworker’s office, talk about the issue, and work through any slights or misunderstandings. You have to deal with it at a distance. And you might find yourself trying to resolve the conflict over texts and emails, which can sometimes be taken the wrong way or difficult to interpret.

But even though it can be hard to resolve conflicts when working from home, don’t just ignore the problem or let it escalate. There are definitely things you can do to fix things and make your relationship with your coworker better. Watch this video by Amy Gallo, author of the “HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict,” to learn how.

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When You Don’t Want to Stop Working From Home

By in Living Well, Uncategorized No Comments Tags: ,

Happy_Working_From_Home

I’m able to work from home right now, and I’m so thankful for that. But I’m also looking forward to a time when I can safely return to the office – for a few days a week at least. I miss being around my coworkers. This pandemic has made me realize how much I crave social interaction!

But I know there are plenty of people who don’t want to return to the office. They are perfectly happy to stay right where they are, for a variety of reasons.

One of the biggest reasons, of course, is that a lot of people are scared. They’re afraid to leave the relative safety of their homes and start spending their time in office buildings with other people.

But that’s not the only reason. According to authors Maria Cramer and Mihir Zaveri, there are growing numbers of people who are discovering that they really like working from home. Now that they’ve had the opportunity to try it, they’re not eager to go back to working on-site.

Indeed, according to a recent Gallup poll, the majority of Americans who are currently working from home would like to continue doing so, even after the pandemic has ended. They’re enjoying the perks that go along with working at their kitchen tables. Here are just a few:

  • No commute – One of the biggest perks is that there’s no commute. That saves people time and money, and may even be beneficial to the environment.
  • Greater productivity – A lot of people find that they’re more productive at home. For those who work in a busy office environment, there are fewer interruptions and distractions.
  • Less illness – I’m not just talking about COVID-19. When people work from home, they’re less likely to catch all types of illnesses, including the common cold.
  • Higher levels of job satisfaction – Research has shown that employees tend to feel more satisfied with their jobs and engaged with their work when they’re able to work from home.
  • More activity – When people work from home, they tend to multitask. They jump up to put in a load of laundry. They run up the stairs to retrieve something. They’re simply more likely to stand up and move around than they are when they’re sitting at their desk in the office. And that increased level of activity is beneficial both mentally and physically.

Overall, there are a lot of great things about working from home. So it’s likely that after this pandemic is over, it might be hard for some employees to transition back into normal office life. Now that we’ve all experienced what it’s like to work from home, it may be difficult for some people to give it up!

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Cramer, M. & Zaveri, M. (2020, May 5). What if you don’t want to go back to the office? The New York Times. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/05/business/pandemic-work-from-home-coronavirus.html

How to Avoid Feeling Sad or Lonely When Working From Home

By in Living Well 2 Comments Tags: , ,

Working_From_Home_With_Cat

There are lots of good things about working from home. For instance, you can wear your pajamas all day, if you want. Yes!

But there are also challenges associated with working from home. It can make some people feel isolated, sad, or lonely. I know that I really enjoy being around other people. So for me, this is a real concern.

So I did a little research on how to make working from home a more enjoyable experience. I didn’t focus on how to be productive at home. I think we already know what that entails. (Basically, you should set regular working hours and stick to them. Make yourself a “to do” list every morning and then make sure to get those things done. And try to avoid distractions.) I was more interested in determining what would make working from home more enjoyable and less lonely. Here’s what I found:

  • Take a walk – If possible, go outside at some point during the day and get some fresh air. Maybe you’d like to sit on your front porch and sip a cup of tea. Or take a walk around your neighborhood. Getting outside will help to alleviate your feelings of isolation and reduce your stress.
  • Get some exercise – Before you start working, after you’re done for the day, or during a work break, try to get some exercise. You could clean up the house, walk up and down your stairs, or do an exercise video. Exercise is a great stress reliever. It will help you to feel more calm and relaxed.
  • Chat with your coworkers online – Of course it’s important to talk to your coworkers about the projects that you’re working on together. But it’s also nice to just chat about the everyday things that are happening in your lives or to share a funny story or joke. Chatting with coworkers can help to make your day feel more fun and less lonely.
  • Make your work space nice – Put a little effort into making your work space feel comforting and homey. Make sure all of your supplies are within arm’s reach, make yourself a snack, and sip a cup of hot coffee. Do whatever feels nice and soothing.
  • Listen to music – When working from home, you don’t need to be quiet. So go ahead and play your favorite music! Or, if it’s not distracting to you, turn on your TV and let it play quietly in the background. Complete silence can sometimes be a little hard to take. Some music or television can help with that.  

Do you have any other suggestions on how to make working from home feel less lonely? Please share your ideas in the Comments section below!

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Turnbull, A. (n.d.). 14 ways our remote team stays sane working from home. Groove. Retrieved from: https://www.groovehq.com/blog/staying-sane-working-solo

Three Things You Should Do When Working From Home

By in Communication No Comments Tags: ,

Working_In_Kitchen

Working from home can be so convenient! If you’ve got a long commute and your work can be done remotely, it just makes sense. Plus, having some distance from the office can sometimes help you to be more focused and productive.

But telecommuting can also cause problems. You could start to feel disconnected from the rest of the team. And if there’s a lack of communication between you and the office, your coworkers could start to feel annoyed and frustrated.

So what should you do if you want to keep your coworkers happy and your projects running smoothly? Here are three things that every remote worker should do:

  1. Work regular hours – If your hours change every day or you work late at night when everyone else is asleep, your coworkers might have trouble contacting you when they need your input. This could lead to a lot of irritation. Your coworkers need to know when they can reach you and have confidence that you’ll be there. And ideally, you should be available during regular working hours.
  2. Be responsive – If you’re difficult to reach or simply not responding to emails promptly, you could create a bottleneck on a project. This could cause your coworkers to feel annoyed or resentful, especially if there’s a tight deadline that needs to be met. Try to be as available as you can, and respond to your coworkers’ questions and requests as quickly as possible.
  3. Don’t be a stranger – Let your coworkers get to know you! Even if you work from home all the time, try to schedule a visit to the office now and then, just to interact with the people you work with. If your coworkers know you and like you, you’ll be able to work together more smoothly and successfully.

 

Fienning, M. (n.d.). How to make sure your boss doesn’t regret letting you work from home. The Muse. Retrieved from https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-make-sure-your-boss-doesnt-regret-letting-you-work-from-home?ref=recently-published-0

Working From Home – How to Be Happier and Get More Done

By in Learning, Living Well No Comments Tags: ,

Working_in_Pajamas

Working from home is a great idea for a lot of people. When commutes are impossibly long, and work can be done remotely, it just makes sense. But working from home does present certain challenges. Distractions are everywhere, it can be hard to stay motivated, and loneliness can be a big problem.

So if you work from home, what types of things can you do to be happier and more productive? Here are a few suggestions.

  • Stick to a schedule – Plan out your day, and then try to stick to it. If you decide that you’re going to start working at 9:00 a.m., make sure you’re at your desk by that time. And plan to take breaks as well! Taking occasional breaks will make you feel more energized and productive.
  • Get out of the house at least once a day – Sure, it’s a wonderful thing to not have to change out of your pajamas. But it’s actually good for your mental health to go outside at least once a day. Taking a short walk around the block or running a quick errand will make you feel more accomplished and less isolated.
  • Get some exercise –Sitting at a desk all day is hard on your body. If you rarely move, you can easily end up feeling stiff and achy. Exercise can help to alleviate that problem. It’s also an excellent way to relieve stress.
  • Try not to get upset about the fact that you may sometimes be overlooked – People who work from home run the risk of being overlooked. Since you’re not in the office every day, it may not always be obvious to your coworkers how much effort your work takes. This may result in your receiving less praise and recognition than you deserve. Keeping in close communication with your boss and coworkers can help to make this situation better.

 

Buckholtz, A. (2016, September 22). How to work remotely without losing motivation. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2016/09/how-to-work-remotely-without-losing-motivation

Some Good and Bad Things About Working From Home

By in Living Well, University Culture No Comments Tags:

Working_From_Home

I don’t work from home, but it does seem like it could be a wonderful thing. If you work from home, you never need to change out of your pajamas! How great is that?

But like most things in life, working from home involves both pros and cons. It’s good to consider both before changing your work situation.

Pros

  • No commute – There’s no need to worry about car trouble, traffic jams, or bad weather.
  • Increased flexibility – Sure, you’ve got to put your hours in. But you can also be there to meet with the plumber who’s coming to fix your sink. You can even throw in a load of laundry!
  • Increased productivity – This actually depends on your personality and preferred work style. Some people find the peace and quiet of their home to be very beneficial in getting things done. It energizes them and helps them to focus.

Cons

  • Isolation – If you’re home alone all day, it can sometimes make you feel very isolated. You might miss interacting with clients and coworkers. And because you’re not in the office every day, you could be overlooked when it comes to new projects and promotions.
  • Distractions – We don’t all live in a quiet oasis! Some people have a lot of distractions at home – including family members, housemates, or demanding pets who are around during the day. And it can sometimes be difficult to focus when the television, Xbox, and refrigerator are so close-by.
  • Decreased productivity – Once again, this depends on your personality and preferred work style. But if you get energized by being around other people, and feel more creative when sharing ideas with your coworkers, then you might be less productive when you’re home alone.

So before talking to your boss about the possibility of telecommuting, consider both the negatives and positives. Research indicates that people working from home often feel happier than those in the office and are less likely to quit. But they’re also less likely to be promoted, and more likely to suffer from feelings of loneliness.

 

Chandler, S. (2015, July 7). The pros & cons of working from home. Investopedia. Retrieved from http://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/070715/pros-cons-working-home.asp?partner=mediafed

 

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