I have a track record of working from home

For some years now, I have had to sit for hours at a time and do administrative work. I have either been working from home, or have had work to do at home - be it for myself, volunteering for charitable causes, or helping my elderly parents who haven’t a clue on how to email or create accounts or even check their bank accounts.

Working from home, away from a conventional office environment offers lots of advantages. It does however mean you can sometimes get lost in the mix, unless you make a conscious effort to establish an online presence with your colleagues. If you are not a naturally social person, this is difficult and can be hard to cope with. 

Working from home requires effort from me to stay connected with the team

In order to keep in touch with my colleagues, I will ask about how their weekend or holidays went but it’s difficult to have a natural conversation with just words on the phone or by email - it doesn’t feel the same as a conversation face to face.  Skype helps but I find myself conscious of time when I venture into a non-work-related conversation, something that wouldn’t normally occur to me.  Also, I would typically know my colleagues well after months or years of working alongside them, but under a dedicated work from home arrangement, the relationships don’t necessarily develop the same way. It’s not referred to as remote working for nothing! 

Communication must be strong, honest and often blunt as you need to be aware that schedules are not always in line, and my first priority isn’t necessarily everyone else’s when deadlines need to be met.   

Working in an office is very different. You interact with departments that are close to you in proximity, even if you never have to professionally interact.  You get an opportunity to socially interact with people when getting a coffee or just waiting for the lift.  You know that you are rarely alone and with that comes some comfort that you are part of something more than yourself. 

I admit that without an excessively busy and often hectic personal life with two demanding children, young dog and elderly mother at home, I would miss the office environment. As it is, I often crave peace and an excuse to shut myself away so I welcome this escape with the well-worn words “Please don’t distract me right now, I’m working”. 

As a dedicated home-worker, when I miss the hum of the office, I listen to the radio.  I can completely ignore what’s being said whilst I get on with my work, but it gives me the replacement for office hum; and on occasion something makes me tune into the discussion that will make me laugh and maybe nudge me out of auto pilot.

It isn’t automatically easy for parents who are remote or home workers

I think it may appear that I cope well in juggling work, children and after-school activities (which are relentless at times and something this quarantine has made me acutely aware of!) Certainly as a single parent, I want my children to know they are worth every bit of time and energy that I put in for them.  However, I have often felt a dreaded guilt. Guilty that I wasn’t working when volunteering. Guilty when I’m working evenings or weekends and not spending that time with my children. 

Do I cope? Yes, some days absolutely, some days barely and some not at all.. those are the days I remind myself I have to do it all again the next day and have the chance to schedule some time into the “I can do that tomorrow” slot.

My recommendations to new home workers?

1. Immediately secure some really great head phones to blot out the traffic or noisy pedestrians passing by - just avoid all possible external noise distractions while working. 

2. Realise that it takes effort to get to know your colleagues. Finding ways to have non-work interaction is more important than ever when you work alone.  Who knew emoticons via an online chat would make such a difference in your day?

3. Have realistic expectations of how many hours you can work productively and without distractions in a day with the knowledge that weekends and evenings give no offer of respite from Mum duties

4. And lastly, you need to ensure you’re always fully charged with so many competing demands, so prioritise the need to take at least a few hours a week doing something just for you.