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Sorry to thread, but bizarrely I've ended up working mostly remote for clients the last few years, and I'm sad to report that while we might have got WFH sorted for the first bit of the year, it's a harder in winter.
If you'll forgive me, some stuff I learned:
If you'll forgive me, some stuff I learned:
Unlike in summer when it can be nice, winter WFH can be bleak.
It's easy to never see daylight, and exacerbate winter blues. This year harder to see people if you don't feel comfortable being inside places, when it's colder you might not want to be outside either.
It's easy to never see daylight, and exacerbate winter blues. This year harder to see people if you don't feel comfortable being inside places, when it's colder you might not want to be outside either.
Light:
Obvious but there's less of it. Get yourself an SAD lamp to bombard yourself in the morning, it'll wake you up and help maintain sleep rhythm.
Also get yourself a decent task light on your desk too, you need something less aggressive than the SAD lamp but still blueish.
Obvious but there's less of it. Get yourself an SAD lamp to bombard yourself in the morning, it'll wake you up and help maintain sleep rhythm.
Also get yourself a decent task light on your desk too, you need something less aggressive than the SAD lamp but still blueish.
Try to maintain your routines if it's colder or raining. If that's popping out to get a coffee in the morning, it's still good.
Lunchtime might be your only time to see a (grey) sky, so take time to have a wander.
Lunchtime might be your only time to see a (grey) sky, so take time to have a wander.
Food. For me, the darker days makes it easy to binge on calorific foods. I try to find less carbs snacks to graze on, and keep things like cake with coffee, as a treat.
I'm not going to mention and mischaracterise Hygge but try to make your living space tidy and cosy
I'm not going to mention and mischaracterise Hygge but try to make your living space tidy and cosy
Clothing: obvious and patronising, but I got away with crap jackets/shoes when it was "home to station" "station to work".
If you still want to be able to go for a walk you'll want some cold/wet-weather clothing, also so you can meet people outside...
If you still want to be able to go for a walk you'll want some cold/wet-weather clothing, also so you can meet people outside...
This isn't a winter thing, but turn your laptop off when you're finished "computing" for the day. Take things like your twitter client out of your startup group.
I just find it a lot less easy to get draw in, when it isn't just moving the mouse and unlocking.
I just find it a lot less easy to get draw in, when it isn't just moving the mouse and unlocking.
Connect with your friends as you want. Maybe a phone call without video, or 3 people not 15 on a zoom call...
We're going to be inside more, possibly under lockdown rules.
Try not to obsess over cases/100,000 or the current R number in your locality.
We're going to be inside more, possibly under lockdown rules.
Try not to obsess over cases/100,000 or the current R number in your locality.
The constant risk assessment we've been doing all year is tiring: Even though most of us are likely to be fine if we did get it, as a freelancer the thought of the long-haul version is scary.
Know when to push yourself a little, and when to be kind.
Know when to push yourself a little, and when to be kind.
