In the unprecedented wake of COVID-19, the world has had to adjust to new working conditions. Our lab has been impacted by the pandemic in various ways, but one of the biggest challenges is the fact that we—like many others—have had to transition to working from home.
We continue to have lab meetings using Zoom, to collect data online using Qualtrics, and to tutor and lecture using Blackboard Collaborate.
This transition to online work has been swift, and has brought up some challenges. Below, our PhD students talk about things that have helped them transition to online work, and working from home.
Just remember that this is a really weird time in human history
Victoria Bridgland
What has been the most difficult thing for you?
Not having my after-work activities! Now I’m having to fill up all of my spare time with at home workouts, and painting. Also no coffee hangs, but we have now taken them virtual so that’s exciting!
What do you recommend for keeping your sanity while working from home?
Make sure you curate a workspace you can treat like an office space, away from family/pet distractions. My mum always wants me to do things with her, so getting her to respect work time has been difficult. Also remember to separate work and relaxation time. I have found that now the day isn’t punctuated by going into the office to work/meetings it is easier for me to work into the night which isn’t always a good thing! To feel good, I recommend changing out of pjs and wear some cute but comfy things. Getting out and having some fresh air is also important–walking is still allowed and I find that it always helps me.
What do you recommend to improve productivity while working from home?
Try and form some kind of routine, and to-do-lists can also be very helpful.
What is one thing that has helped your transition to online work?
Most of my work has been ‘online’ computer based (as is most PhD students work) so the actual tasks aren’t that different, just the work and meeting spaces. Usually I like to break up my day working at uni for the first half and then working at home in the afternoon––this part is key because it is when coffee hangs occur which I have missed.
Anything you’d like to add?
I hope everyone is doing ok, and just remember that this is a really weird time in human history so it is totally alright if you aren’t feeling super productive and get distracted.
Use technology to stay connected
Di Nayda
What has been the most difficult thing for you?
The isolation and not feeling connected to my fellow PhD students.
What do you recommend for keeping your sanity while working from home?
Maintaining normality as much as possible, like continuing with exercise programs, adhering to a routine, and taking regular breaks.
What do you recommend to improve productivity while working from home?
Creating a schedule in hourly blocks with breaks, and setting goals for the day, having a designated area to work and treating it as an office, and notifying family members when I am working to avoid distractions and interruptions.
What is one thing that has helped your transition to online work?
Setting boundaries like when to check emails. Also using technology to stay connected.
Meeting with friends online …keeps my mental health in check
Nadine Hutchison
What has been the most difficult thing for you?
Structuring my day to make sure I am on top of my work but also having time for self-care activities.
What do you recommend for keeping your sanity while working from home?
Pets! They are great for cuddles when you need them and are hilarious to watch. I also find meeting with friends online at least once a day helps me feel more connected with others and keeps my mental health in check.
What do you recommend to improve productivity while working from home?
It is important to have a designated study space to help you relax when you’re not working. Take regular breaks throughout the day where you remove yourself from that study space to do something (e.g., eating, exercising, meeting with friends online).
What is one thing that has helped your transition to online work?
Constantly talking with other students who are experiencing the same thing has helped a lot. Getting advice from others and has definitely made me feel more at ease with the continual change in circumstances.
Face-to-face communication has helped me feel connected
Lucy Matson
What has been the most difficult thing for you?
Trying to stay focused despite the many distractions in my home (e.g. other members of my family who are also working from home, easy access to Netflix, a bed nearby to take a nap in, etc.)
What do you recommend for keeping your sanity while working from home?
I have found it very beneficial to stick to working hours (9am-5pm). The office area I work in is in a separate room to other areas of my home (e.g. my bedroom, living room). As soon as it reaches the evening, I leave my office area and do not return to it until the next morning. I think it is important to have that time in the evening to relax, watch some TV, and interact with other people in my household.
What do you recommend to improve productivity while working from home?
At the end of a workday, planning out my priorities for the next day has definitely improved my productivity. Through doing this, I begin each day motivated and focused due to already having a plan for the day. My work schedule during the day has generally been an hour of work, and then a 15-minute break, and so on. I also give myself a 45-minute break in the middle of the day for lunch. Having these breaks throughout the day has helped my productivity, especially as I struggle to sit still for long periods of time.
What is one thing that has helped your transition to online work?
Frequent online meetings with the Takarangi Lab. We mainly discuss work-related topics, but there is also the opportunity for non-work-related conversations. Continuous face-to-face communication with other members of the Takarangi Lab has helped me feel connected to everyone despite these abnormal and challenging times.
Stay positive, physically distant and socially close.
Taylor Swain
What has been the most difficult thing for you?
Everything. Moving from the routine of going to uni everyday to working from home and having to self motivate has been difficult. Additionally, since we can no longer collect data face-to-face, I have had to re-think parts of my PhD thesis. Finally, the cancellation of placements and transitioning to online classes has been difficult.
What do you recommend for keeping your sanity while working from home?
Socialising. It is very easy to feel isolated and lonely when working from home, so stay connected with your colleagues and friends. Have virtual meetings and message on social networking platforms. Our lab has a group chat which keeps as all in the loop with work but also allows us to send funny memes to lighten the current situation. I try to talk to my friends every day and also allow some time for self-care activities like exercise, puzzles, reading or playing sims.
What do you recommend to improve productivity while working from home?
I always use to-do lists. I often number tasks or even schedule them directly into my calendar so I know what to work on and when, and what my most important tasks are. Also working regular, scheduled hours. I’m very passionate about only working during work hours. When working from home it’s very easy to just keep working or to forget to “leave the office”. But it is important to stick to your regular hours as though you were still going into work.
What is one thing that has helped your transition to online work?
Support. Although this situation is devastating because everyone is involved, it also means that everyone is involved. It means that everyone is in the same boat and talking about other people’s experiences, and keeping in touch can be really useful.
Anything you’d like to add?
Take care of your mental health. When working from home it’s so easy to feel isolated and alone. To combat these feelings, make some time for self-care and ensure you’re keeping strict rules around workload, workspace and time. If you’re not emotionally well, you’re not productive. Do what makes you feel good and if you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a break. No one expects you to function at the same level you normally would, and everyone is in the same boat. Stay positive, physically distant and socially close.