I experienced one day at Hive HQ before we all started working from home.
I’ll be the first to admit that I got stressed. And all the new job nerves leading up to my first day were only amplified by anxiously over-reading about how coronavirus was progressing and the possible effects it would have on the world of work.
But as the world of work has well and truly changed, more and more of us are continuing to work from home—sometimes voluntary, sometimes enforced!
One thing that has always been clear since you-know-what changed the way we work, is that support and enthusiasm to keep everyone well and connected during times of uncertainty is absolutely essential.
And I see a lot of that across Team Hive, which inspires me to better manage my own wellbeing throughout times of change and while working from home—and to also show extra care to my coworkers who may be dealing with their own anxieties or difficult situations.
So, I’ve decided to dedicate a blog to some wonderful employee wellbeing ideas shared across Hive by my amazing colleagues, to help inspire people to take control of their own wellbeing at work.
7 wellbeing tips for working from home
1. 🧘♀️Stretch and breathe.
Donna, Enterprise Sales Manager here at Hive, shared some of her favourite (tried & tested) yoga videos that can be used when we all need a good stretch and some time to breathe. From videos that can be followed straight from your desk, right up to longer videos to battle those aches and pains—yoga is great for helping our mind slow down and ease any anxieties.
2. ☕️ ‘Meet’ for a cuppa and chat.
Virtual cuppas have been doing the rounds at Hive, too, kick-started by our People Science team. Working from home, you might find yourself talking to people less regularly – but that doesn’t have to be the case. A quick video chat with friends, colleagues, family, clients, old acquaintances… you name it. Be social! Not every Zoom call has to be 100% business, 100% of the time. Video has long proved to be one of the most useful tools at our disposal for keeping engagement up and morale high.
3.🚶♂️Keep your commute going.
This one is from James, one of our UX Designers! James recommended taking a walk before and after work, aka ‘commuting’. I decided to try this one out myself, and I’d put this one at the top of my own recommendations. It’s been great for clearing my head and keeping the line between work and home as clear as possible, as well as getting some much needed movement and fresh air.
4. 🎙Listen to podcasts galore.
If you’re anything like me, it can be difficult to stop focusing on the negative. Podcasts are great for providing a new perspective and allowing you to change your outlook. So, whether you listen to them for fun or for a self-help approach, take advantage of all the positive content out there! Headspace has been recommended by a number of our Hive Heroes as a good resource for stress and mindfulness. Or, if you’re not one for podcasts, you can’t go wrong with a nice upbeat playlist to lighten your mood!
5. 👨💻Know when to stop.
Gareth, Lead Software Engineer at Hive, also shared some wellbeing tips about how he avoided burnout while working remotely. Working from home, it’s all too easy to blur the line between work and home. “I’m almost finished, I’ll just keep going”, and before you know it it’s three hours later. Gareth started setting himself an achievable task list every morning so he knew when to switch off, rather than getting sucked into his screen and losing track of time.
6. 📰 Avoid too much negativity.
I’ll admit that I’ve spent way too much time reading through articles from various (and some very questionable) news sources recently. I’ve chosen to limit my time and sources to try and avoid the scare mongering—allowing me to still keep up to date, but also stay as positive as possible so I can focus on what really matters.
7. 💛Be kind and supportive.
Probably my favourite piece of advice so far, from our CEO John, is making sure that we all take the time to check in on each other regularly. Now is a time for taking care of one another, so instead of putting our energy into worrying, let’s focus it on being supportive. It’s a strange time for everyone, so let’s be there for those we care about.
Making employee wellbeing a priority
A big part of our wellbeing rests in the relationships that we build with other people – we seek community and a sense of belonging. But self-isolating and social distancing can be, well… isolating.
We need to stay connected. So whether that’s video chats with our loved ones, or even just texting, we can apply the same wellbeing principles to our lives out of hours.
We’re all experiencing this in real-time and learning along the way. What that also means is that we’re all entitled to our own boundaries and tackling the situation in a way that works for us. So as we continue to navigate the world of work, the best thing we can do is to make sure we put wellbeing at the forefront of our day-to-day.
Ultimately, priority lies in looking after yourself and look after each other. 💛
Looking to make a real impact on the wellbeing of your people? Our wellbeing question set makes the perfect employee pulse survey, helping you keep an eye on your remote teams and implement wellbeing strategies that truly make a difference. Grab your copy now👇
Made with love in Newcastle Upon Tyne