The current Coronavirus pandemic has affected our daily lives in a variety of ways. Many were used to working in an office away from home or studying at local coffee shops but, as we currently are under the 'stay-at-home, work-from-home' orders, this is not an option.
While we are lucky to have the option of working or studying from home to help reduce the spread of this disease, the transition can still be stressful. To help reduce stress and frustrations, the librarians at Chaminade University's Sullivan Family Library have put together this blog to share various resources and strategies to make your time at home productive.
Tiny tricks make a big difference:
Reduce your electricity bill:
Spending more time at home can translate to more lights being turned on, more electronics being plugged in, and eventually, higher utility bills.
- Lift your drapes or open your blinds during the day to utilize natural lighting.
- When possible, opt for laptops which uses less electricity than a desktop computer.
- When not using your computer, switch to "sleep mode" to reduce electrical consumption.
- Unplug electronics that are not is use -- they can zap electricity when plugged in.
Create a work space:
Your home office does not need to be an elaborately decorated room in your home but having an area for you to think and work can increase productivity and a sense of peace.
- Choose an area that is quiet and well-lit.
- Make sure you have the necessary technology and equipment to work. If not, speak with your professor or employer for assistance.
- Even if it is just a corner in your home, put all of your work or school-related materials there to reduce the amount of time it takes to start working every day.
Set ground rules and create rituals:
Communicate with those in your home about your work flow and how they show support during your work time.
- Speak with your employer or professor about the hours they expect you to be working, available, or on your computer. Share these hours with your family or roommates.
- Minimize distractions by using noise-canceling headphones or plugging into a white-noise podcast.
- Get "ready" for work by getting dress, grabbing something to eat, and preparing your beverages for the morning. This will allow you to be ready to work and not needing to get up for a snack or a drink of water.
- End the day with a routine. Some people like writing "to-do" lists so they can jump into work the next morning while others enjoy a post-work stretch to physically end the day. Play with different options and see what works for you!
Need a little background noise?
The hushed tones of a coffee shop or background noise of our work offices can be something missed when working from home. If you're in need of a little noise to help you focus, YouTube has channels that you can play in the background:
Electronic library resources to check out:
When accessing resources off-campus, please enter your CUH ID number
and password when prompted.
"In this volume, we consider how individuals seek a healthy alignment between work and non-work. In addition to building upon the established literature on work-family conflict, the chapters in this volume also examine the reciprocal positive influences between work and non-work..." -from publisher
"The balance between work and family life is the single most commonly mentioned issue among senior executives worldwide. This book provides a framework for analyzing immediate and long-term balance. Using case studies of how twelve or more executives in various industries have handled the challenge, readers are invited throughout the volume to compare their current structures with those of the subjects in the cases presented." -from publisher.
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Be sure to communicate with employers or professors about your transition and remember to not be too hard on yourself -- we are not just working from home, we are at home during a pandemic trying to work. If you need additional assistance or have a library-related questions, feel free to email us at library@chaminade.edu.
