It’s the end of 2020, and by now many of us have been working from home for most of the year. Who knew in January what a crazy year this would be? While the future does look hopeful, it’s safe to say many employees will still be working from home for at least the first half of 2021. By now, the novelty of working at home has certainly worn off, and it’s likely many people are getting burned out. So how can we all stay motivated and productive during these next (and hopefully last) six months or so? 
Supervisor Tips:
- Encourage employees to take PTO even if they’re not traveling like normal.
- Find creative ways to encourage teams to collaborate and bond, such as virtual happy hours in the afternoon or trivia competitions.
- Recognize and acknowledge good work being done by employees; working from home can be isolating, and a small amount of recognition can go a long way towards keeping employees motivated.
- Ensure employees have all the equipment they need; if ergonomic or technology issues have come up over the course of the year, prioritize finding solutions so employees can do their best work.
Employee Tips:
- Take breaks and get outside! Even though the weather may be colder, snowier, and darker, it’s still really important to get outside even for a few minutes every day. Put on some warm clothes and get out there!
- Take care of yourself with regular exercise and healthy food.
- Communicate clearly with your coworkers and managers. Sometimes emails or instant messages don’t always get the whole message across, and it can be best to call and talk over the phone.
- Ask for help if you need it! It can be tempting to push through a workload that’s too much while working at home by just working longer hours. This can lead to burnout.
- Plan rewards for yourself after major milestones or projects are finished. We all need a little extra motivation these days!
