Embracing Change Through Telework: Working From Home Isn’t What We Expected, but It’s What We Have With Coronavirus

Coronavirus, Change, and Teleworking

It wasn’t so long ago when our world was much different than it is today. Social distancing wasn’t part of our vocabulary, and we traveled freely. Many of us commuted to an office or school on most days. We socialized with our coworkers and friends and family. On weekends and holidays, we gathered at restaurants, enjoyed hearing live music at concerts, played sports, or cheered our team as part of a crowd at a stadium. Gatherings with friends, colleagues, family, and partners brought joy to life. Sadly, these routines are now suddenly and drastically disrupted because of the coronavirus.

Today, with all of us taking measures to flatten the curve against COVID-19, social distancing means that we spend the vast majority of our time at home. Not socializing has turned our world upside down personally and professionally. Many people are finding this sudden change incredibly hard to accept and are scrambling to adjust. But, with a coordinated effort from all of humanity, we will eventually move past this. Our world will restore balance, albeit in ways most of us never would have imagined. Because we are creative and innovative and resourceful and caring, there will be life after COVID-19.

Telework Suggestions From Our Speech to Text Experts

As we deal with what coronavirus has levied on us, we want to take an opportunity to share tips from some of our transcriptionists, scribes, and editors. Our speech-to-text experts work from home as a matter of routine. Athreon’s workforce has been teleworking since the 1990s. With decades of experience working from home, we hope that some of the suggestions that follow can make a difference for people who are still striving to find their work/life balance as they adjust to remote working for the first time. We know that juggling working at home alongside family or housemates can be tricky.

Melanie in Kirtland, NM & Linda in Midlothian, VA. Melanie and Linda remind us of how important exercise is. Although we may not be able to go to the gym, taking a walk or doing some stretching can do a lot for your well-being. With spring here now, almost any outdoor activity can lift your spirit.

Angela in Newport News, VA. Angela recommends reading a book. Whether you enjoy fiction or fantasy or another genre, the pages of a book can be a therapeutic escape from negative media coverage. Taking in too much news can be depressing, but the words on a page can create a fantastic diversion.

Marissa in Deerbrook, WI. Take time for yourself. Marissa points out that self-care is essential. If you neglect to treat yourself well, then you’ll be less equipped to care for others that depend on you. Practice yoga, meditate, light a candle. When you feel better, you will naturally lift others around you.

Randee in Bismarck, ND. Have you considered a stand-up desk? Randee suggests that a stand-up desk can help make sure that you don’t stay sedentary for too long, especially if you work many hours at home. Proper ergonomics can make a big difference in the way you feel as you go about your day.

Michelle in Ste Genevieve, MO & Barbara in Cedar Bluffs, NE. Routines are essential. Michelle and Barbara impart that keeping a schedule helps. Routine can make us more productive, plus it creates normalcy. Setting times to do activities at regular intervals can foster a sense of purpose and stability.

Stephanie in Waldoboro, ME & Patrice in Albuquerque, NM. A dedicated workspace is key. Stephanie and Patrice point out that working from home alongside others can be distracting without a home office. If you have the space for it, like a spare bedroom, set up a home office so you can “go to work.”

Judy in Abington, MA. For those of us who don’t have space for a dedicated office, a room where we can close the door to block out distractions, Judy recommends noise-canceling headphones. It’s not practical for everyone to have a home office, so use technology to be resourceful when space is limited.

Hollie in Chatsworth, CA. Hollie directs our attention to the food we eat. Eating well or eating poorly will generally correlate with how we feel. Diet can influence our energy level, ability to think, mood, and overall health. While we all need our indulgences, be sure to make nutritious food choices a habit.

Our Telework Experts and Transcription Services Are Here for You

Our team of language experts, our transcriptionists, scribes, and editors, remain dedicated to supporting a variety of speech-to-text initiatives for hospitals, clinics, doctor offices, police departments, insurance companies, government agencies, schools, and many more organizations throughout the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. If you need help converting speech to text, contact us. Athreon is committed to providing you the highest-quality and most-accurate speech-to-text transcription service available.

We also want to thank everyone who isn’t staying home to telework. Of course, our thoughts are with the front line workers in hospitals, grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, and other essential businesses. Thank you for the risks you are taking to care for the sick and to keep the rest of us fed and safe. We all have a part to do in conquering coronavirus, even if that means just staying home. So, stay home if you can, stay safe, and be well!