Right now, people around the world are having to stay at home to work & study. So, here's a quick guide on how to set yourself up & how to make working from home, work for you. 1. FIND YOUR SPACE:
First up, find your space to study or work. Ideally it's someplace dedicated to work, that's nice and bright by a window. It'll keep your eyes from straining and make sure you still get some vitamin D.
2. ERGONOMICS:
One you've got a spot, now it's time to think about ergonomics.
Posture: Adjust your chair height. Your back should be straight, your elbows should be 90 degrees to the table & your feet should be touching the ground. If you don’t have a chair that goes up and down, you can use a pillow & some books or paper under your feet.
Screens: If you’re using a screen, try to keep it about an arm’s length away, so your eyes aren’t straining. You also want the top of the screen to be at eye level, so your neck’s not stuck in a weird position.If you’re using a laptop, treat it as if it's a monitor. You can grab a cheap mouse or keyboard in lots of places these days, including online if you don’t want to venture outside. You can even do this with a tablet, although you may also need to get a dongle to connect them.
3. MANAGE YOUR TIME:
Every day, write out a list of what needs to be done & give yourself a fair amount of time to knock it off. It’ll help you get organised, keep you on track & make the day feel rewarding as you tick off each thing on your list. If possible, use the principle of Worst First. Knock off the least exciting things on your list first, so your day gets better as it goes.
3. TAKE BREAKS:
Experts reckon taking a break every hour is very important. It’s a chance to stretch, get a drink, have some food & recharge so you’re ready to get stuck in again.
4. DRESS TO IMPRESS:
Start every day by dressing up like it's a normal work or school day. Wearing a uniform while you're alone all day may seem weird, but it'll help get you in a working mindset and be a constant reminder that you're still supposed to be working.
5. REMOVE DISTRACTIONS:
One of the toughest things about working from home is avoiding distractions. Put your phone away, stay off social media & avoid the urge to watch the latest episode that just dropped of that show you really love. If you’re still having troubles, see what you can do offline. Print off some tasks, dusting off your pen and paper & get stuck-in outside.
6. GET AN ASSISTANT:
If you're in a situation where you can responsibly adopt a rescue pet, even just to foster short term, there are plenty of animal shelters in need right now because of the impact of COVID-19 (just make sure your assistant doesn't distract you too much).
7. LOOK AFTER YOURSELF:
This is the important step. Being stuck inside all day, especially if you're alone, can be tough. You can't be efficient if you're anxious, upset, tired or overworked. So, after a long day, make sure you check in with friends and family members to see how each other are going. Have a laugh, and try to talk about something not related to COVID-19. If you're feeling extra stressed during the day, take a quick break to chat with someone.Talking to a coworker or colleague can also help you stay on track with your work. However if there’s no one you feel comfortable talking to, you could try giving Kids Helpline a call (1800 55 1800) or visiting Beyond Blue's website.
- Nicholas Maher, Behind the News
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For the past 50 years, Behind the News has been helping to break down current issues and events for young people all around the world. The program is a high-energy, fun way for people to learn about the stories we see in the news, while providing background information that isn’t usually given by other news bulletins.
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