Spotlight 08 Informed


#WFH – when your co-workers are now toddlers


and boisterous three-year-old. It has been wonderful to help her learn to read and count. I’ve lost work but finally gained the co-workers I’ve been missing. It’s just a shame.”


#WFH: how to keep healthy and productive – tips to help


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Juggling work and children, fighting with the spouse for office space and geting used to new technology to communicate with colleagues has been a steep learning curve for many of us confined to home. Anna Hervé, NEC rep for the books


sector, is now a proud practitioner of networking apps Zoom, Teams and Skype and Clear Scanner app. Most of all she is “ridiculously proud” of seting up her new printer/scanner off all by herself. Despite her cat photo-bombing virtual meetings and the screams off stage – possibly the son, maybe the husband – she is head down and working until it is her time to take care of their toddler. She said: “As a book editor, working from home can be the ideal scenario. I can focus on editing text, without the distraction of endless meetings and all the quotidian tasks that dominate our office life. Te one fly in my ointment? I’m the mother


of a toddler. Te second day of balancing childcare and work was a distinct improvement, but it’s still a steep learning curve. Our son is thrilled with having his parents around 24/7, even if we’re increasingly frazzled. For me it means periods of intense concentration, followed by puting together a trampoline.” As a freelance, Jade Wright is used


to working from home – but not usually with husband Marc news editing the Daily Post, bringing together a team of reporters working across north Wales, and daughter Beatrice scatering all her toys across the floor. Her work editing an independent food and drink magazine, writing freelance arts stories and her back- up doing PR for hospitality clients has all but dried up. She said: “So, I am doing my tax return, geting to grips with my new camera, updating my website, plus that book I keep meaning to finish. I also have a full time job home-schooling a brilliant


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Do a mini risk assessment. What makes you feel anxious, and why? What challenges have you found? Review how you are doing.


Plan your day, regular routines help provide purpose and focus.


Focus on work during work hours, then pack away your laptop and switch to home life.


Being active increases our energy levels and can bring a greater sense of wellness. Join body coach Joe Wicks on YouTube for free workout sessions. Take regular screen breaks, stretch, walk around, look out the window.


Try relaxation techniques, such as meditation and mindfulness.


Keep in touch with people by joining WhatsApp or Facebook groups. Arrange a virtual coffee or glass of wine or play an online game with friends, family or colleagues.


Sleeping well can be difficult when you feel anxious. Try to go to bed at roughly the same time. Wind down before bed, turning off phones, tablets and laptops an hour before you retire.


Get the balance right between following the news coverage and keeping informed and limiting your news intake if it begins to worry you.


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