MENUMENU
  • FREE RESOURCES
  • PREMIUM CONTENT
        • SEE MORE
          PREMIUM RESOURCES
  • HR DEEP DIVES
        • Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources for HR Professionals
          Employment Law
          Labor Law Posting Requirements: Everything You Need to Know
          Recruiting
          businesswoman selecting future employees on digital interfaces
          Recruiting Resources for HR & Hiring Managers
          Performance Management
          vector image of young female making star rating
          Performance Review Resources
          Employment Law
          Understanding Equal Employment Opportunity and the EEOC
          Recruiting
          Onboarding Resources for HR & Hiring Managers
  • CORONAVIRUS & HR

  • LOGIN
  • SIGN UP FREE

HR Morning

MENUMENU
  • FREE RESOURCES
  • PREMIUM CONTENT
        • SEE MORE
          PREMIUM RESOURCES
  • HR DEEP DIVES
        • Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources for HR Professionals
          Employment Law
          Labor Law Posting Requirements: Everything You Need to Know
          Recruiting
          businesswoman selecting future employees on digital interfaces
          Recruiting Resources for HR & Hiring Managers
          Performance Management
          vector image of young female making star rating
          Performance Review Resources
          Employment Law
          Understanding Equal Employment Opportunity and the EEOC
          Recruiting
          Onboarding Resources for HR & Hiring Managers
  • CORONAVIRUS & HR
  • Employment Law
  • Benefits
  • Recruiting
  • Talent Management
  • Performance Management
  • HR Technology
  • More
    • Leadership & Strategy
    • Compensation
    • Staff Administration
    • Policy & Procedures
    • Wellness
    • Staff Departure
    • Employee Services
    • Work Location
    • HR Career & Self-Care
    • Health Care
    • Retirement Plans

5 keys to keeping it together when we’re all working apart

Rachel Mucha
by Rachel Mucha
May 5, 2020
3 minute read
  • SHARE ON

In the two months since stay-at-home orders took effect across the country, we’ve all wondered whether this is the new normal.

Who knows! But what’s certain is remote work is here to stay for the foreseeable future – likely until Memorial Day and beyond – and so this pandemic will continue to have a big impact on everyone’s mental health.

Mental stamina

The challenge of working from home every day can be taxing on everyone at your organization.

After two months at home, some employees will be experts at getting their jobs done – others will be at their wit’s end.

It’s going to take a great deal of mental stamina for you and your team to continue pushing through, and psychologist Darrin Grelle, principal research scientist for SHL, has some great remote work strategies you can pass along to your team to help everyone get through this.

1. Separate

If you have a home office or other private room with a door, work from there, Grelle says. Of course, many don’t have this luxury. Instead of a room, designate a specific area for you to work in.

Your area can be as simple as a spot at the kitchen table or a cushion on your couch. The idea is to have a separate physical space dedicated to work – this will help you to form a mental separation between your work life and your home life.

If you need to do something non-work related during the day, leave your designated work space to do it. This will also help you gain awareness  of how much time you’re spending on other activities, Grelle says.

2. Connect

A lot of important socialization and relationship building happens in the workplace. Take that away, and employees might find themselves running out of steam.

To stay connected with everyone, take advantage of the chat system your organization uses, and say hi to those who are available. Your colleagues are likely just as eager for some conversation.

Virtually chatting with your co-workers will help break up the day, facilitate idea sharing and relieve stress, Grelle says.

3. Disconnect

Working from home can cause you to lose track of time. With everyone at your company on different at-home schedules, it can be tricky to know when to log off and call it a day. With your laptop readily available, you might find yourself working late and checking emails constantly.

This is a recipe for burnout. According to Grelle, it’s essential to have a firm start and stop time while working at home. And when it’s time to sign off, shut your computer down and don’t turn it back on until the next day.

4. Get dressed

Many might be tempted to stay in their pajamas all day, but this can make it difficult to fully engage in your work. Grelle says it’s important to put on something other than pjs.

Obviously, this doesn’t mean you should be putting on skirts or ties – but getting up, getting dressed and settling into your work area will give you a sense of much needed normalcy.

5. Keep moving

Working from the comfort of your home makes it a lot easier to stay seated for much longer than you would in your office chair, which isn’t good.

It’s important to get up frequently and keep your blood pumping. Walk around, do some stretches – even a small amount of activity will help you refocus and concentrate.

Rachel Mucha
Rachel Mucha
Rachel writes about Human Resource management and has been a member of the HRMorning staff since 2017. She is a graduate of Ithaca College.

Get the latest from HRMorning in your inbox PLUS immediately access 10 FREE HR guides.

I WANT MY FREE GUIDES

Keep Up To Date with the Latest HR News

With HRMorning arriving in your inbox, you will never miss critical stories on labor laws, benefits, retention and onboarding strategies.

Sign up for a free HRMorning membership and get our newsletter!
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
HR Morning Logo
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linked In
  • ABOUT HRMORNING
  • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • WRITE FOR US
  • CONTACT
  • Employment Law
  • Benefits
  • Recruiting
  • Talent Management
  • HR Technology
  • Performance Management
  • Leadership & Strategy
  • Compensation & Payroll
  • Policy & Culture
  • Staff Administration
  • Wellness & Safety
  • Staff Departure
  • Employee Services
  • Work Location
  • HR Career & Self-Care

HRMorning, part of the SuccessFuel Network, provides the latest HR and employment law news for HR professionals in the trenches of small-to-medium-sized businesses. Rather than simply regurgitating the day’s headlines, HRMorning delivers actionable insights, helping HR execs understand what HR trends mean to their business.

Privacy Policy Terms of Service
Copyright © 2021 SuccessFuel

WELCOME BACK!

Enter your username and password below to log in

Forget Your Username or Password?

Reset Password

Lost your password? Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.

Log In

During your free trial, you can cancel at any time with a single click on your “Account” page.  It’s that easy.

Why do we need your credit card for a free trial?

We ask for your credit card to allow your subscription to continue should you decide to keep your membership beyond the free trial period.  This prevents any interruption of content access.

Your card will not be charged at any point during your 21 day free trial
and you may cancel at any time during your free trial.

preloader