Seven insights from Argylers on working from home

Whenever you have a negative thought, replace it with gratitude. – Terri, Toronto

Make a routine

Less time commuting might make you reach for that snooze button, stumble out of bed and log on before that first coffee, but establishing a routine helps distinguish work time from home time – and protects peace of mind.

A routine or at least the idea of a routine has helped. At the end of the day, we have a quick 1/2 hour tidy to separate work and life. During the tidy the laptops go away and we transition into our evening. – Corina, Edmonto

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You’ve gotta move
Who is guilty of this one? You’re hunched over the computer only to look up and discover it’s 3:00 p.m. and you haven’t moved! At Argyle we’re encouraging each other to incorporate movement into our days, including offering Zoom fitness breaks and classes for our team.

I take breaks, walk around and stay consistent with a routine. I like to pretend it’s a regular day and work in a place without too many distractions (pets, fridge). – Jane, Winnipeg

Self-care looks different now
Finding creative ways to practise self-care is important, especially in times of stress. Being mindful of how much COVID-19 news you are watching, managing stress, and finding ways to recharge will help support your well-being.

For my peace of mind, I have developed a gratitude practice by writing down at least three things I’m grateful for each day. – Suzanne, Victoria

Set boundaries but be flexible
Whether it’s sharing small spaces, or contending with roommates and parents who don’t understand you really are working, or kids who interrupt your meetings, it’s important to set boundaries.

Having a place for both of us to work, especially if we’re on calls at the same time, is key! We live in a 900 sq. ft condo where sound carries. Communicate with each other, get a good pair of headphones and try to laugh! Don’t forget about common courtesy in this unusual time. – Amy, Toronto

Reach out, be social
With every week that passes, finding time for social connection is so important for our happiness and mental health.

Working from home requires mental health maintenance: call a friend every day. For guys, this is a big one, since many of us usually don’t call friends. When we see them, we see them…otherwise it’s radio silence. I’m reaching out to just say “Hi” and it ups my mood. – Sean, Toronto

Find the good
It’s easy to focus on the negative, the things that we can’t do during this time of isolation. Try to focus on the positive moments, the benefits of working from home, and the opportunity to support your community.

Be kind. This will change the way we work, shop and live forever. – Alison, Toronto

Finally, invest in your relationships – both personal and professional
None of us can control the macro-level economic, social or public health challenge. We can, however, act at the micro level: we can influence our relationships with one another.

Be transparent about challenges, and collaborative about solutions. When in doubt, ask before you assume. And assume only the best of one another. – Dan, Toronto