Some tips from someone who usually works from home on how to manage the pitfalls

My role with Vitality360 is largely done from home using Skype, Zoom and telephone to support people with pain and fatigue. In normal circumstances I also work in a pain and fatigue service in a local hospital, so I have experience of the differences between working in a clinic and working from home.

I have fallen into many unhelpful traps working at home and thought I would share these with you with some of my own solutions!

Loneliness

I didn’t realise I enjoyed the social interaction with my colleagues quite so much until I started working alone at home. I now set up regular Skype meetings with my colleagues (who all live in different parts of the country). Sometimes this is to discuss our clients or business issues, but sometimes we just have a coffee and a chat. We also had a cocktail party via Skype once.

Sitting stooped over at my desk for hours

I have obviously set up my workstation at home. I would highly recommend a laptop stand and a decent chair… More importantly, I split my day into chunks and move. I no longer book Skype calls back to back. When in a clinic room you can move more and you generally have to get up and walk to the waiting room. On Skype you can just keep going. I now get up at least every hour to stretch, walk around the house, etc. If I am making a phone call I try to stand up instead of sitting in the same place. Occasionally I take my laptop into a different room for an hour.

Picking at food all day

Food is just so easily accessible at home. I do find having snacks breaks up the day, so when at home I plan to have a mid-morning and mid-afternoon break with a snack. I just buy healthier stuff and eat less for lunch.

Never really getting dressed

I now get dressed as though I am going to work, including shoes! I feel more professional and this improves my mood.

Working longer days

When everything is set up at home it is easy to start work before breakfast and still be responding to emails in the evening. My initial thoughts were that this is great, I can extend my day and take a long break in the middle. I was going to go to the gym, meet friends for lunch… this didn’t happen.

I now do work a slightly extended day but schedule a walk or time to do the washing! I don’t set up too high an expectation to take two hours out as I would be constantly disappointed.

I hope during these strange times of enforced working from home for many of us, that these tips from my own experience are helpful.

Written by Beverly Knops, Specialist Occupational Therapist