À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ

When it comes toÌýwork, I'm someone who thrives with plans and routines.ÌýÌý

ApproachingÌýmy final co-op term this spring, IÌýthoughtÌýI knew what to expect, especially since I had alreadyÌýcompletedÌýthreeÌýworkÌýterms at the University.ÌýBut, as thingsÌýchangedÌýfromÌýofficeÌýlife toÌýwork-from-home life, my approachÌýon how I’dÌýtackle this new role required me to adapt.Ìý

Like many of us during the pandemic, I found myself scrambling toÌýfindÌýbalance between work andÌýself-care, seeking motivation,Ìýand fending off burnout.

ReadjustingÌýmyÌýoutlookÌýonÌýwhatÌýthisÌý9-to-5Ìýrole expected of meÌýasÌýwell asÌýensuring I logged offÌýafter theÌýworkdayÌýwas over, helpedÌýmeÌýset realistic expectations for myself.Ìý

IfÌýyou're like me andÌýareÌýlookingÌýfor balance, hereÌýare aÌýfewÌýmethods thatÌýhaveÌýhelped me:Ìý

GiveÌýyourself permission to reprioritize

One of the first things I tried this term was maintainingÌýa strict 9-to-5Ìýschedule,Ìýwhere I wouldn’t leave my desk for hours at a time.ÌýHowever,ÌýwithÌýmy parents working late as essential workers, I found myselfÌýcaring for my grandmother in their absenceÌýandÌýI beganÌýfeeling anxious and unproductiveÌýwhen I wasn’t meeting my work goals.ÌýÌý

AfterÌýconfidingÌýthisÌýtoÌýmy co-op employer, I was given the freedom to dictate my own hours, allowing me to restructure myÌýtasksÌýthroughout the day. I could prioritize my family and responsibilities as they came up and continue workingÌýin a way that wasÌýproductive.Ìý

Harness technological solutions

Like Ryan said last week,ÌýI feel fortunateÌýto haveÌýsecured employmentÌýand to be safely working from home.Ìý(BAScÌý'11)Ìý

Adapting toÌýanÌýonline work setting,ÌýI've migrated my agendas and planning online as well. While I've used all-in-one notebooks for school, I needed something with different capabilities for work, soÌýI've shiftedÌýtoÌýusing all-in-one workspace apps likeÌýNotion.ÌýOne of my favouriteÌýfeatures is that it isÌýaÌýmultiple-view database, where I can set up a calendar and change the view into aÌýKanbanÌýboard, tracking my project goals across the week.Ìý

Break your workdayÌýintoÌýshort intervalsÌý

When I get distracted,Ìýit takes a long time for me toÌýrefocus.ÌýSo, I’ve adopted theÌýPomodoro TechniqueÌý— it’s aÌýtime managementÌýmethodÌýthat breaks a workday intoÌý25-minuteÌýchunksÌýof time, followed byÌýsmall breaks.ÌýThisÌýnew methodÌýhasÌýhelped me meetÌýmy weekly goalsÌýbecause I canÌýpowerÌýthrough distractionsÌý— IÌýgetÌýmoreÌýthings done inÌýquickÌýbursts.ÌýI’ve found the short,Ìýplanned breaks help me relax and improve my attention span.Ìý

Trade routine for ritualÌý

I never thought I'd missÌýmy pre-COVID routines ofÌýwaiting in lineÌýto order coffee or standing on a crowded bus, but here we are.ÌýSubstitutingÌýthese routinesÌýinto daily,Ìýat-home ritualsÌýhasÌýprovided more meaning to my days.ÌýWhether getting upÌýearlierÌýto make myÌýparents’Ìýcoffee or singing along as I do the dishes, these smallÌýactions allow me to reconnect with myself andÌýhave added some normalcy back to my life.ÌýÌý

Maintaining a healthy separation from workÌý

ConstantlyÌýusingÌýtechnology can sometimes make it difficult to disconnect form work.ÌýTo maintain that separation, I keep my dedicated workspace out of my bedroom, set a hard deadlineÌýforÌýwhen to silence my work notifications,Ìýand shut off my computer in the evenings. I also try to setÌýanÌýendÌýtimeÌýforÌýtheÌýworkdayÌý—ÌýandÌýI takeÌýtheÌýtime to unwind, socialize and reconnect withÌýmyÌýfamilyÌýand friends.Ìý

While this is a summary of what I've been doing,ÌýotherÌýco-op students have been finding their own strategies to navigate thisÌýremoteÌýwork term. Tell us what your strategies are by connecting withÌýus onÌýTwitterÌýusing the hashtagÌý#UÀ¶Ý®ÊÓƵCoopÌýand #WorkFromHome.Ìý