Canadian Career Guide

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DURING THE COVID-19 GLOBAL
PANDEMIC , the normalcy of your daily
life was more than likely altered in some
way. For many, this means working from
home, schooling from home, staying
at home. As much as you always loved
coming home at the end of a long day,
having no choice but to be home creates
some less pleasant feelings. It has proven
hard for many people to feel motivated,
to separate life from work, and to see the
level of productivity you would see in
the office. Here is some advice for
combating these issues and rocking
your remote workspace.
HAVE A DESIGNATED WORKSPACE
Separating your work area from the rest
of your living area will help to simulate
the idea that you are going to work.
Tori Coleman, Program Coordinator
for the Texas Tech University Career
Center, said having a designated work
area has proven very helpful. “If you
designate a space, you aren’t constantly
clearing away or sharing the space for
other purposes and can be fully focused
when you are ‘at work.’”
She said it will also provide some
much-needed distance from the bed
you’d rather be sleeping in and the couch
that keeps calling your name. Coleman
said the best designated workspace is
one that is out of the bedroom, away
from the clutter, and in a well-lit area.
TAKE BREAKS
Donna Srader, Assistant Director of
Texas Tech University Career Center,
said working from home requires extra
discipline she never considered before.
“I have to force myself to stop and
take breaks each morning and afternoon,”
Srader said. “A short walk or 15 minutes
spent outside reading can make a
positive difference in my level of energy
and enthusiasm.”
ACT LIKE YOU’RE IN THE OFFICE
Jessica Bartow, Talent Solutions Specialist
with , said it is important
to act like you are going to go into the
office. She said she wakes up early, does
a workout, enjoys some quiet time, and
dresses like she is going to work even
though she works from a home office.
“If I were to roll out of bed right before
8:00, I wouldn’t be physically or mentally
ready to tackle the day,” Bartow said.
STAY CONNECTED TO COWORKERS
“Be intentional,” Bartow said. “Catching up
about daily life can be more challenging
when your coworker isn’t right next to
you, physically.”
It may be more important than ever
to check in on people. She said reaching
out to coworkers gives them a chance to
talk about how things are going outside
of work.
CLARIFY WORK EXPECTATIONS
It can be especially difficult to navigate
work hours when working from home.
Every resource you need is at your
fingertips 24/7. Does this mean you are
expected to utilize those resources at
every waking moment?
Bartow said she would recommend
talking with your boss about remote
workplace expectations. If your normal
workday is from 8 to 5 but your office
phone is at home, do you answer it
outside those hours?
Communication has always been
important, but when working remotely,
it is vital. Don’t be afraid to ask hard
questions. Make sure you and your
employer stay on the same page.
Working from home presents unique
challenges that you must recognize and
work to solve. It sounds nice to be able
to stay at home every day until you must
separate work from life in the confines of
one building. Having your office just feet
away from your bed can make “let me lay
down quick” a constant thought.
Adjusting to stepping away from
work when it means literally step, not
get in your car and drive, can be hard.
Finding the motivation to get ready is
inherently difficult. Rocking your remote
work means finding what is best for you
and sticking to it. AG
rock your remote workspaceby Morgan Miller, AgCaree 2020 Marketing Intern & Texas Tech University Student
22 Ag & F ood CAreer guide