Latest Tips
Latest Tips
Let’s work together while staying apart!
Griffith is committed to supporting our staff and colleagues working both from home and on-site. For most of us, remote work is a new experience, bringing new challenges that require new adjustments to the way we work.
In order to help with this adjustment, we're sharing tips, ideas, recommendations and resources to help you get through this time. Check back weekly for our latest tips!
This week...
We're wrapping things up! After more than twenty-five weeks of sharing tips and tricks for getting through lockdown while taking care of yourself, you're ready to take on whatever challenges any new way of work has to throw at you. We can't wait to see everyone back in the office!
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Previous tips
Consider setting up a Remote Work Checklist.
Sometimes getting back to basics is the best way to start a new project - or a new way of work. Think about what helps you get through the day in the office, whether that's a clean workspace, catching up with coworkers, or going for a walk - then find a way to implement that into your remote work.
So, what's on your remote work checklist? Set aside some time this week to figure out what helps you feel & do your best, then make it part of your daily or weekly routine!
Microsoft 365 created an infographic with a few fantastic ideas to help you get started.
Are you practising Healthy Remote Working? Remote working has different challenges and requirements that you and your team might not be used to yet. Check in with yourself and your team to make sure everyone's following the tips below and keeping healthy while working remotely.
Are you practising Healthy Remote Working?
Remote working has different challenges and requirements that you and your team might not be used to yet. Check in with yourself and your team to make sure everyone's following the tips below and keeping healthy while working remotely.
Is your workspace set up for success?
Keep ergonomic principles and best practices in mind when you set up your home workspace. A little attention to things like posture, as well as mood lifters like plants and music, can make the difference between struggling through your day and flying through it!
Social distancing can feel like an excuse to let the rules of "real life" fall by the wayside - it's easy to snack all day and stay up all night when you're left to your own devices. That's why it's so important to have a daily routine. Make time for things like regular meals, talking with family and friends, enjoying some fresh air and getting to sleep early enough that you're rested and refreshed for the next day.
Working remotely is already hard - and it's even harder when there are a few little ones around! The good news is that there are plenty of tools on the internet to help keep kids engaged, healthy and even learning during this tricky time. IXL gives kids of all ages lessons to work through, covering a lot of the same information they'd be doing in school - all the better to keep those little brains learning! When sitting still just isn't an option, set up this five-minute exercise video on YouTube to help them work out some of that extra energy!
Weeks of stress and uncertainty can take their toll on your mental wellness - take a look at the tips below, and make sure you're looking after yourself as best you can!
Remember to take time to catch up with friends and colleagues! Zoom doesn't have to just be for meetings - you can use it to schedule a virtual coffee break when your energy starts to dip mid-afternoon.
We're all spending a lot more time in close proximity to our kitchens, so why not try out a new recipe? Whether you're an experienced chef or your knowledge of cooking extends to toast and no further, now is a great time to give yourself the challenge of learning to make something new.
- Need a carb fix? Here are a few pasta recipes to get you started!
- Want to get a healthy dinner on the table fast? Jamie Oliver has you sorted.
Happy cooking!
You're probably not on your feet quite as much as you'd normally be, between commuting, coffee runs and regular socialising, so it's important to work some stretching into your day to keep those muscles feeling good! A bit of chair yoga or a quick pilates break is easy to work into your daily routine, and you'll feel the difference fast!
We want to hear how you're taking care of yourself right now. Show us your home workstation, activities with your children or pets, your favourite Zoom background, the best thing you've cooked during lockdown, or anything else you're enjoying! We want to create a collage showing how the Griffith community is coping, and when you share you're in with a chance to win a €100 One4all voucher!
Please note that by sending your photo, you are giving consent for this to be shared with work colleagues.
Having trouble sleeping? There are plenty of simple adjustments you can make to your daily routine to help you get a good night's sleep. Try having herbal tea to relax before bed, or getting outside during the day to regulate your circadian rhythm. Avoid caffeine later in the day, and give yourself some screen-free time before bed!
If you were carefully and studiously avoiding touching your face back in March, only to have gotten a little bit lax about it now that it's nearly June, you're not alone. It's still one of the best ways to keep yourself safe, though, especially when combined with frequent, thorough hand washing. Review the tips below and get back on top of your no-touch game!
Try spending some time every day or two getting in touch with how you're really feeling. A guided meditation is a great way to check in with yourself, mind and body, and get yourself feeling rested and rejuvenated. Why not start with this one?
When life seems overwhelming, it can be tempting to just shut it all out - but why not consider taking on a new challenge instead? Volunteering can be a great way to give back and increase your social and relationship skills at the same time. Volunteering even lets you decrease your own stress by focusing on others instead of what's happening in your own life.
Visit I-VOL to learn more about volunteering opportunities near you!
Maybe you're tired of runs around the neighbourhood. Maybe you're not sleeping as well as you were. Maybe you're just feeling a little off, after a few months of a disrupted way of day-to-day living. Why not try Qigong? This ancient exercise combines Chinese medicine, philosophy and even martial arts to help you feel centred and able to take on the world again.
Virtually, that is. We've all been working from home for a while now, and some of the things that we were thinking about constantly back in April may have fallen by the wayside. Take a few minutes to check back in with your virtual meeting set-up - are you remembering to mute yourself when you're not speaking? Are you sneaking a few quick looks at your emails during meetings? Get refocused to make the most of your meetings.
If you're feeling tired and unfocused, and your jeans aren't fitting quite as well as they did back in March, it might be time to take an honest look at your eating habits. Sometimes our good intentions fall by the wayside when we're overwhelmed - who hasn't intended to snack on an apple only to reach for a bit of chocolate when the day got stressful? Plus, fruit has great health benefits, from supporting your immune system to lowering cholesterol!
We all know that vegetables add colour and flavour to our meals.
They are a good source of vitamins and minerals. Some are high in fibre which aids digestion. Some contain different antioxidants which can protect vision. For the calorie-conscious people, vegetables are low in calories, saturated fats and sugars. Find out which vegetables contain these amazing properties by clicking this link.
Sitting for too long is already bad for you, but, on top of that, your home workstation might not be set up for ergonomic success. Check out the benefits of good posture below, and learn more about exercises to help you stay healthy.
Remember to take care of yourself, and that doesn't just mean making every day a treat day! Little things, like waking up and going to bed at the same time every day, can have a huge impact on your mental health. Try going for a walk or settling in for some meditation - checking in with yourself regularly is the best way to keep on top of how you're feeling.
Being kind to yourself is one of the most important things you can do for your mental well-being - why wouldn't you treat yourself the way you treat your loved ones? Remember to make time to empower yourself, talk to loved ones, get enough sleep and enjoy creative activities.
When you finish work for the day, or especially for the weekend, make sure you're really done. Having a ritual in place for the end of the day on Friday sets you up to really enjoy your weekend, without worrying about the work you did during the week or what's coming up.
