adverrising for all

 

 

Top working from home tips from around the world

Top working from home tips from around the world

With challenges like sharing workspaces and managing mental health, working from home during a pandemic is uncharted territory. Here are your best tips for maintaining productivity – and sanity.

Earlier this month we shared expert insights for maintaining productivity while working from home during Covid-19. Many of you subsequently shared your own stories and tips, which included both practices that follow common advice and new and creative ideas.

Several recognised that the pandemic makes working from home far more challenging than usual; people are sharing workspaces with family and dealing with anxiety, stress and other mental health problems.

Sarah M, a service desk analyst from the UK, admits she’s finding the isolation rather “depressing” and urges others not to take day-to-day human interaction for granted. Haralds Gabrans, a digital marketing manager from Latvia, says he’s struggling to accept that this is “the new normal”, and that it will go on for more than a few weeks.

Despite the challenges, many have discovered working from home amid a pandemic can still be a productive and even rewarding experience with the right mindset and behaviors.

Structure versus flexibility

Many have told us they are working longer hours, since being at home blurs the lines between the beginning and end of the workday. Without cues from colleagues heading out for lunch, or the side chats we often engage in at the office, it can also be hard to remember to take breaks. 

Several people suggested putting structure and daily routines in place, including scheduling frequent breaks.

Angeliki (Pavlou) Heinz, an audio marketing and development manager in Germany, meets her husband in the kitchen for regular coffee breaks “just like normal colleagues”. Similarly, Diana Nilsson, co-founder and chief operating officer at Tracemyfile in the UK, says her family “never compromises on breakfast, lunch, tea time and dinner together, regardless of if our work is done or not”.

Christina Brazzale, a digital marketing manager in the UK, says working from home actually provides fewer distractions than her usual office environment, and pushes her to make more of her lunch break than simply eating at her desk. “Now, as I'm at home, I can't wait to head out for some sunshine, fresh air and a brisk walk,” she says. “It's definitely helped me make a serious effort to take my breaks, which is very refreshing.”

At the same time, however, some are finding that they’re encountering increased social pressure to accomplish more professional, personal, creative or household tasks during this time.

Hannah Allyse Kim, a children’s literary editor in South Korea, has been quarantined at home for more than a month. Her message: go easy on yourself. “You may feel as though you can tackle all the home improvement and organisation projects now that you're confined to the house. Don't pressure yourself,” she says. “Completing only a few extra projects each day outside of your scheduled work leaves time for recharging your mind, whether that's picking up a book you've been meaning to read or trying out a new recipe in the kitchen.”

Yvonne Dodd, a transformation coach from the UK, agrees. She suggests having a daily schedule, “but don't beat yourself up if you don't stick to it rigidly; have fun with your kids; get out in the fresh air and get some exercise (if possible)”.
Get creative
For many, the days are starting to feel jumbled together, and, at times, dreary. One tip several readers offered was to work in a spot in your home that gets good natural light, or to work in any outdoor space you have. Anastasia Balandina from London works from her balcony when the sun is out, and describes this experience as “life-saving”.

 

Another way to revive flagging energy for yourself, your colleagues or your family is to come up with creative, silly games or group activities. Nilsson spices up time with her family by doing at least one fun activity together every day. “We take turns to choose an activity. Examples: making a slime together (I would never do it otherwise), making raw balls (my kids wouldn’t do it otherwise), making a family TikTok video (really?), a puzzle. This way we stay productive but also have time to appreciate each other.”

Meg Tweed, a recruitment resourcing consultant in the UK, also plays a daily game with her colleagues. “We have a short meeting/update every morning and have begun to bring in an element of fun to them by doing a 'treasure hunt', where we have an item each week and whoever brings the best one wins. This week is an embarrassing photo of us as a child!”

 

Robert Stride lives in Switzerland where he can’t roam far outside. He invented a little game for himself to stay sane: “Ten places in your home you really need to visit.” Every day he visits a different location in his flat. “Day one was the washing machine, day two was the shoe rack, day three was the toilet bowl brush, day four the flat door, which we know must remain closed. Tomorrow I’ll visit the dishwasher.”

In London, Hannah Cordle is taking regular “bounce breaks on my kids’ trampoline” and participating in virtual runs with her colleagues, “tracking our daily steps on Strava and visiting strange tourist destinations en route”. In Switzerland, Sarah Holland has turned her kitchen worktop into a ping pong table.

 

Get your kids involved
Readers who are self-isolating with young children may well be finding it hard to follow tips about avoiding distractions and keeping workspaces sacrosanct. Many of you suggested ways to keep your children busy, including chores, games and taking shifts with your spouse.

Emma Cantril, owner of Intelligent Profile in the UK, says she has given her kids daily jobs. “Having worked from home for 20 years, I would say the biggest challenge is having to manage the sudden influx of family, cooking, washing, cleaning and how impossible it is to have a quiet space for everyone to focus,” she says. “To avoid being overwhelmed with a mess at the end of the working day, make sure everyone tidies as they go along. Otherwise, it’s impossible to cope and you will spend precious time in the evening sorting everything.”

Jonathan Wareham, a sales director from Treviso, Italy, who is under full lockdown with his wife and three children, also agrees that chores and outdoor time is important. He adds that it’s important to be “honest with yourself and your kids about the situation”.

Though Wareham has found home-schooling his kids to be the most stressful task, he says balance is crucial. “We have now accepted that we will make a daily effort and do what we can BUT refuse to stress ourselves and the kids out!” He says it’s important to give kids time to be both creative and bored.

 

Stay positive
In the midst of the crisis, many readers also touched on adjusting your mindset to embrace a more positive outlook.
Wareham says it’s important to establish a good attitude early on. “Take this opportunity as a positive, to challenge and build up your character and that of your family,” he says. As he and his own family have had to adapt to being constantly together, he adds that flexibility is key. “Start to recognise your negative traits. This gives you the opportunity to grow.” Try to enjoy the stillness, he adds, and recognise that your concept of time will change.

Ultimately, he reminds us that time with family is precious, even if it is not on our own terms. “See the lockdown as a time to build lasting bonds with your family and to understand what is important in this short life. Remember that together you are building a unique memory, that these moments will stay with you and your family forever.”

 

 

Amazon, Walmart, FedEx, Instacart, Target, And Whole Foods Front line Workers Plan Walkout Strike

 

A number of frontline employees are reportedly planning a walkout on Friday to protest their health, safety, and pay as they continue to work during the corona virus pandemic.

Employees from Amazon, Walmart, FedEx, Instacart, Target, and Whole Foods are part of the planned strike that is calling for better work conditions to protect against COVID-19, The Intercept reported. The workers are also reportedly fighting for hazard pay during the pandemic as well as protective gear, cleaning equipment, and full disclosure on the number of COVID-19 cases at locations.

To protest, employees are reportedly planning to call in sick from work or leave their place of employment during their lunch break.

In a flyer that is circulating on social media, one of the strike’s lead organizer, Christian Smalls, called for more protection for workers, saying “protect all workers at all cost. We are not expendable or replaceable enough is enough TAKE THE POWER BACK!”

According to The Intercept, strike organizers held a series of meetings over Zoom and used encrypted message apps such as Telegram and Signal. One Zoom call reportedly included Rev. Jesse Jackson, who offered his support.

Smalls was reportedly fired from Amazon after organizing a walkout strike at its Staten Island, New York, facility. Amazon said Smalls was fired for violating the company’s quarantine policies, the news outlet said.

 

11 Mesmerising Beauties Of the Past Century

 

Betty White

Everyone loves Betty. She’s sassy, funny, and incredibly talented. Aside from being an animal rights activist, she’s starred in countless films and TV shows over the years. Even as she’s approaching a solid 100 years on this earth, there’s absolutely no stopping her.

 

Betty White
Everyone loves Betty. She’s sassy, funny, and incredibly talented. Aside from being an animal rights activist, she’s starred in countless films and TV shows over the years. Even as she’s approaching a solid 100 years on this earth, there’s absolutely no stopping her.

 Sophia Loren

Sophia first got into the limelight way back in 1949, participating in a beauty pageant which paved the way for her career. I’m pretty sure your parents and grandparents all had a crush on this beautiful Italian girl.

 

 Martha Stewart
Who doesn’t know about Martha Stewart? Not only is she a genius chef, she was also an incredibly successful Chanel model.

Judi Dench
Another legendary actress on this list, Judi Dench has starred in a plethora of films in the last few decades, but she’s probably best-known for playing “M” in many of the James Bond films.  

 

Maggie Smith
Believe it or not, this stunner is Professor McGonagall from the infamous Harry Potter films. She’s had a successful career in stage acting, movies and television for over 60 years – my fav was her 1969 flick, ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’.

 

Elizabeth Taylor
The legend says that once you’ve looked into her eyes, you’re trapped for all eternity. Sadly, Elizabeth passed away in 2011, so we can’t put this urban myth to test.

 

Helen Mirren
Remember that retired CIA agent in the movie “Red”? Yeah, that’s Helen Mirren and she does not show any signs of slowing down.

 

Jane Seymour
I still remember some of the episodes of “Dr. Quinn Medicine Women” from when I was little, and turns out Jane Seymour initially blew up after becoming a Bond Girl. She continues her acting career even today, making guest appearances on TV and movies.

 

Brigitte Bardot
There’s nothing this enchantress can’t do: acting, singing, fashion modelling – you name it! Not to mention she’s a prominent animal rights activist.

 

Isabella Rossellini
Italian actress, filmmaker, philanthropist and a stunning model has made a huge name for herself in Hollywood. She even modelled for Madonna’s extremely controversial book called “Sex” and continued to act in TV shows like “30 Rock” and “Blacklist”.

 

 

Infection-control squads to be sent into nursing homes hit by clusters to prevent further spread

Infection-control squads to be sent into nursing homes hit by clusters to prevent further spread

 

Nursing homes that are at risk of being overwhelmed by the corona virus crisis are to be targeted by a squad of infection-control experts in a bid to prevent the illness spreading to vulnerable residents.

The HSE is to send a team of doctors and nurses into the nursing homes that are struggling.

A ban on agency staff working in different nursing homes - increasing the risk of passing on the virus - has also been ordered.

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan, whose expert group have ordered a set of measures to relieve the crisis in the sector, said: "We are concerned with the number of clusters identified in nursing homes. We have identified a range of measures, working with the HSE.

"

We need to see continuous actions being taken to reduce the risk of transmission in nursing homes and long-term residential facilities."

I

t comes as the number of nursing homes hit by a cluster of the virus increased to 38 after it was revealed residents in a number of facilities died of the virus, with large numbers of staff also infected.

Health Minister Simon Harris is due to tell nursing homes that a financial package of supports to increase Fair Deal payments will be offered in a bid to offset their extra costs, from hiring healthcare workers and cleaning staff to fight the virus.

Tadhg Daly, of Nursing Homes Ireland, said yesterday his organisation had sought extra investment and it was also waiting for extra supplies of vital protective wear for staff 

The moves come as the national death toll from the virus rose to 120, with the families of another 22 people mourning the loss of their loved one.

They were 11 women and 11 men, from the east, south and west of the country with a median age of 80.

Another 424 people - a new high - tested positive for the virus, bringing the total to 4,273 confirmed cases.

Dr Holohan said the most up-to-date figures showed that there were 110 patients in intensive care. Overall, there have been 156 admissions so far, 15 of whom died and 31 of whom were discharged.

He warned, however, that the fall in the daily growth rate in new confirmed cases of the virus, down from 33pc to 10pc, was still not enough to ensure hospitals would be able to cope with an influx of seriously ill patients.

It will be at least another week - marking a fortnight after the start of the near lockdown - before a clearer picture of the success of the emergency measures can be calculated.

"

It will be another seven to 10 days and we will see what the rate of growth is at that point," he said.

The latest analysis of figures here show 948 healthcare workers have been infected and most of these are in the east of the country, with a minority picking up the virus in the workplace.

It has also emerged that some of a consignment of protective equipment and clothing for healthcare workers - sent here from China last weekend - is unusable.

Doctors have complained about the tough material, lack of protection in sleeves, and the smaller size of some of the clothing.

Dr Colm Henry of the HSE said some respiratory masks were categorised as surgical masks and long-sleeved gowns were more akin to body suits.

A portion of the equipment cannot be distributed and the HSE, which has ordered nearly 60 plane-loads of the gear, are to go back to the supplier.

It is also working with manufacturers in Limerick to provide a domestic supply of surgical masks.

Asked about progress in coronavirus testing, Dr Henry said a large number had been sent to a laboratory in Germany for processing and they were due to be returned from this evening.

The outsourcing will allow the Irish laboratories time to work on responding to the shortage of a reagent which had been leading to delays.

The HSE has declined to name the German laboratory involved.

Meanwhile, the official advice on the wearing of face masks by the public is unchanged following consideration by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Mike Ryan of the WHO said there was a healthy debate under way on the use of face masks.

They can be used for people who are ill at home and people caring for others who are sick.

حلويات رمضان 2020 انسي الزلابيه ولقمه القاضي واعملي الجديد وابهريهمالكل هيسألك علي طريقتها 😋

حلويات رمضان 2020 انسي الزلابيه ولقمه القاضي واعملي الجديد وابهريهمالكل هيسألك علي طريقتها 😋

تحلية باردة لسهرات رمضان ترطب عليكى بعد الصيام (حلويات رمضان ٢٠٢٠)

تحلية باردة لسهرات رمضان ترطب عليكى بعد الصيام (حلويات رمضان ٢٠٢٠)