Switching Modes: Going Online
Now we're adjusting to the "normal" that we have with COVID still around, the world has frantically switched its modes of delivery from face to face to online (virtual world). It's no surprise seeing most reporters doing their segments at home, in their living room or kitchen while those who are on the field are wearing masks and goggles. This virus has indeed changed how we deliver information to each other.
This of course shifted to the people who are working. Companies frantically equipped their employees with the necessary gadgets that will have them work from home, from connection to desktops computers or laptops. And now, schools have also moved their lessons online. Whether it's via Zoom or Google Classroom, it's all virtual for now while our government has not allowed face to face classes while there is no vaccine.
Having been a work-at-home mum since 2013, I've had my share of frustration and annoyance when it came to adjusting to this lifestyle. The first thing I had to invest in was a good working laptop, only because I found desktops to be to bulky. And being in the Philippines, we all know how "blessed" we are with the speed of our internet. That had to be something I needed to accept and deal with. But when I started working full-time under my current company, I needed to invest in backup connection because I cannot be disconnected during my shift. And then around this time was when Davao City was also "blessed" with those outages that would last 4-6 hours, remember those? Oh yes, I frantically bought two UPS to keep my modem and my laptop alive.
Here are my personal tips (that worked for me) on how you can transition to working online or transitioning the kids to online classes:
1. Have a space for work - trust me, working in the kitchen doesn't help. I tried that and I ended up finishing up a week's worth of snacks while doing my weekly reports because, well...manic Monday! As for the kids, they need to understand that when they're in that space, it's time for school work. Although in our household, Damien transitions from his school table to the kitchen or to the living room or bedroom, depending on how he feels like understanding the lesson.
2. Schedule Blocks - trust me, you'll need to focus because you'll see that you won't be productive when doing multiple things at once. What worked best for me was I set my shift schedules as my productivity blocks which meant that my family had to give me those hours in peace so that I can be efficient. My shift varies each day but because I've had this schedule for quite some time, my body has learned to adjust with it and so has my family. And with regards to Damien's homeschooling schedule as well, I needed to integrate that into my work schedule as well because I am still working full time so I need to ensure that I can maximize our time without compromising on our nerves.
3. Backup power supply - we cannot anticipate power outages and when it happens and you're in the middle of work, you can't be screaming at the power company. Believe me when I tell you, get in line. You're not the only one in this dilemma. So I learned to work with the system and prepare because I've learned the hard way...when I already experienced power outages and I couldn't get any work done, hence I couldn't get paid. We got two UPS as we have one that is for the modems and another spare UPS for our laptops in case our batteries run out.
4. A good headset - this was a good investment for me because I bought my headset back in 2015-2016 and it's still in excellent condition. Why the need for a headset? It's for privacy and to ensure that you can respond clearly as well. Whether you're using it for meetings or for the kids' online classes, it gives a sense of privacy and it's keep the peace in the household.
5. Roll-up tarp - the one thing my company required was a white background. I initially used a cloth as my background but found it cumbersome to change from one area to another. And there are instances that I needed to change locations from the bedroom to the home office, heck even to the basement. So I found that a plain white tarp in a roll-up system to be very efficient because I can move it easily. Now, why a white background? It's clean. It's not messy and lessens the instances of embarrassing moments where people who shouldn't be there accidentally pass by.
6. Good fitting blazer or button-up polo shirt - especially during meetings, you still have to look polished and respectable. Period.
7. Backup internet service provider (ISP) - we do not have the best internet connection and that's a well-known fact. So it's best to be prepared and invest in 1 or 2 backup ISPs. On our end, we still have PLDT as our main ISP, but I have my backup LTE under Smart and a prepaid wifi modem under Globe. I ensure that I have loaded these two prepaid ISPs so I can simply switch connections if the main line is down. Or if you cannot afford to get a backup connection, ensure that it's just you using the line during your work hours or during the class hours. Because if someone's watching Netflix in the other room and one is using Zoom for classes, more bandwidth is used which can cause more traffic, hence slowing down the speed.
You don't necessarily have to get everything on the list but as you traverse through the new normal, you'd probably realize that you may need certain other things that are not on the list or you won't be needing all the things that I have here. Being on my 7th year of working from home and Damien's 1st year of homeschooling, we also needed to make adjustments on our end in order to suit the dynamics of our household.
We are all going through the same pandemic and it's always great to share best practices. Let me know how your household is also adjusting with the new normal.
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