The Best Way to Improve Yourself at Work: Take Care of Yourself at Home
There’s no doubt about it. The pandemic has been draining. In addition to the massive cost on human life, it has also taken a toll as we’ve kept socially distant from friends, family, and colleagues to help stop the spread. Chief among these daily disruptions, for many of us, has been working from home (WFH).
Over the past year, The Herald Group (THG) has implemented processes that support team members’ abilities to work remotely while instilling the company culture that sets THG apart. Beyond increased digital communication, file sharing, and tools to meet and conduct business online, THG has tried to give teams and individuals the personal support that helps us maintain comradery and a sense of community.
Our teams continue to collaborate and check in with one another to remain productive and motivated. We may be working from separate kitchen tables and living rooms, but we haven’t let life’s celebrations pass us by. We’ve made it a priority to share in the small joys together, from virtual baby and wedding showers and bracket competitions (March Madness and The Bachelor) to commemorating work anniversaries and recognizing one team member’s superb contributions each week.
As we enter the final WFH stretch, don’t forget that the most important thing you can do to improve yourself at work is to take care of yourself at home. After all, prioritizing self-care improves your work life and, therefore, your work product.
Here are some tips for taking care of yourself while working from home:
Turn scheduled phone calls into walking meetings where you take a lap (or two or three) around the block.
Carve out time to do virtual happy hours with coworkers to share ideas and check in with each other.
Use your lunch break. Take time away from your computer and eat your lunch in another room or even outside.
Above all, listen to yourself. Turns out, living through a once-in-a-century pandemic is exhausting. Communicate with your manager about how you’re doing and when you might need a break.
We’re a year into the pandemic, and there’s light at the end of the metaphorical work-from-home tunnel as vaccinations ramp up.
While we’ve missed seeing our coworkers, we’ve loved virtually meeting the newest additions to the work family—whether in onesies or collars and bandanas—through the screen.
We cannot wait to see everyone, including our clients, in person again soon.
Stay safe and healthy!