Coworking Space Manila Archives

10 Common Mistakes In An Online Interview

What are common online interview mistakes?

Not checking your camera, mic, and internet connection
Staring into space — or at yourself
Being surrounded by distractions
Waiting till the last minute
Talking over your interviewer
Not paying attention to your clothes
Having a messy or dark background
Forgetting you’re on camera
Moving too fast or erratic
Not practicing beforehand

Ever had to take an online job interview as part of your job search? Even if you haven’t yet had the chance to experience it, you will soon — with all the post-COVID-19 changes in the world, online interviews are here to stay. Every day, more and more recruiters are opting for this tool to make the recruitment process more efficient. But as with anything new, many people experience difficulties and commit many blunders during this process. If you want to avoid that, then here are ten common mistakes in an online interview. Knowing these will help you present yourself much better on screen:

Not checking your camera, mic, and internet connection

Struggling with your laptop, mic, camera, and even WiFi during your interview can spoil the flow of conversation and make things awkward. There’s maybe nothing worse than being cut off in the middle of your answer because of a spotty connection. So, it’s essential to take time to check everything before hopping into your online interview.

Most conference apps, like Zoom and Google Meets, will have built-in testing capabilities for your mic and camera, so be sure to check there.

When you enter your interview, you should ask if the interviewer can see and hear you properly. Likewise, check if you can see or hear them properly before proceeding with the interview. This is the best way to ensure your meeting will go smoothly.

Staring into space — or at yourself

Looking bored and staring into space can make it seem like you’re unfocused on the interview. On the other hand, people also tend to look at themselves in online meetings. But, doing either one can give a bad impression and may even be distracting for your interviewer. Make sure to always maintain clear eye contact with the interviewer. You can either directly look into the camera or the interviewer on the screen. This creates the feeling of direct eye contact.

Being surrounded by distractions

When having an online interview, make sure you choose to have it in a space that is free from the day-to-day distractions of your home or office. That means staying away from ringing phones, other people talking, or other activities that go on in the area. You can also ask your roommates or your family to give you some quiet and privacy during your scheduled interview. This may prevent them from being noisy, or disturbing you during the online interview.

Waiting till the last minute

It can sometimes take a few minutes to get connected to an online conferencing app for your online interview. Avoid waiting till the last minute to click on the link and join the call, since it’s likely that you’ll connect to it past your agreed meeting time. You also don’t want to be rushing around at the last minute, which can negatively affect your focus and composure.

Talking over your interviewer

Even with great WiFi, there will be a few delays here and there while you’re conversing with your interviewers. Such connection delays make this mistake very easy to commit — even if you’re aware of it. The best way to avoid doing this is to wait for a few seconds after your interviewer stops speaking before giving your answer. Doing this will ensure you’re not interrupting them, and can also be used to think over your answer carefully before speaking.

Not paying attention to your clothes

Though your online interview can be done in the comfort of your home, be sure not to get too comfortable. After all, you wouldn’t wear just some shirt or your pajamas during an in-person interview. So, the same rule should apply to an online interview. Always make sure your interview clothes are appropriate and professional. Try to look your best!

Having a messy or dark background

Likewise, the area around you during your interview should also look appropriate and professional. This is important, as your interviewer can see what’s behind you. Make sure your background is neutral with minimal distractions. And, make sure you have adequate lighting. You can use either natural light from a window, but you can also supplement this with ceiling lights and lamps.

Forgetting you’re on camera

How you present yourself plays an important role in any kind of interview. But, the tendency of many is to forget that they’re on camera, and their posture and body language suffers. Remember not to relax so much that you begin slouching, touching your face, or other inappropriate behavior. Always keep a proper posture to convey your professionalism.

Moving too fast or erratic

Having a job interview can be a stressful experience — we get it. But, it’s important to remain relaxed and composed. Speaking or gesturing too quickly or erratically can make communication confusing between you and your interviewer. And, this can become even worse if your connection starts lagging. So remember to answer slowly and carefully, and make sure to allow for any potential time lags in the audio.

Not practicing beforehand

If you’re new to online interviews — or just interviews in general — then you should get in ample practice before the real thing. Set up an online meeting with a family member or friend, and try to simulate the experience of a real interview with them. This way you can practice answering reflections, and get some feedback on your performance. Doing this will help you feel more prepared in front of the webcam.

Key Takeaway

Improve your chances and make a great impression on a potential employer by knowing the common mistakes in an online interview. This article may just help you polish your online interview skills, increase your confidence, and make the process that much easier for you.

5 Benefits Of Working In A Quiet Environment

What are the benefits of working in a quiet environment?

Improves your ability to concentrate
Better for your mental health and wellbeing
Helps with the creativity process
Creates a sense of calm
May boost productivity

Today’s modern work environment offers different environments to the benefit of the people working in them. But if there is one environment quality that every office or workspace needs, it’s some peace and quiet. Many office spaces have been designed to offer quieter areas to work in, but why is this quality so important for every office? Let’s explore the possible benefits of working in a quiet environment.

Improves your ability to concentrate

One of the main reasons why maintaining a tranquil and mostly-silent space in the office is it’s critical for concentration. In the modern world, it’s common for us to be exposed to a barrage of sound all at once. Phone notifications, traffic, and even noisy office appliances all create the constant hum of background noise.

What we now know is that these noises can impact our ability to concentrate. In fact, when sounds reach around 80 decibels, your focus will almost always be hampered. A quiet environment with minimal background noise is best when you need to concentrate on the work in front of you.

Better for your mental health and wellbeing

Noise doesn’t just have an impact on your concentration, but also on your mental health and wellbeing. Hectic environments full of excessive or prolonged noises can trigger a stress response in your brain. This is why working in noisy areas can make someone more irritable, emotionally sensitive, or withdrawn.

This can affect your ability to think straight, which can make you feel even more stressed. Workers who are annoyed by consistent noise may even feel resentful or dissatisfied with their work experience and environment.

Helps with the creativity process

Quiet and creativity go hand in hand. Most creative people find that being able to shut out elements of the outside world, including noise, puts them in a state of improved creativity, increasing their chances of developing new, interesting ideas. Some of the best creative work just happens when you can focus on brainstorming and your craft. Studies show how important a quiet environment is to the creative process.

Creates a sense of calm

When you struggle at work, you may have difficulty staying calm and composed. But, this becomes even more difficult when your brain is met with tons of external stimuli, such as loud noises.

When working in a quiet office space, you have a better chance of tackling your stress. You can quickly disengage from the situation, and acknowledge and analyze both your work and mental state. As such, you’re able to address the problem much easier, which can significantly improve both your emotions and workflow.

May boost productivity

Interruptions, such as all the notification sounds that come from your phone and laptop, or noisy, distracting office mates are such a commonplace problem in the workplace — it’s even accepted as a simple fact of life. This can be a big issue, however, when you or your team need to get your heads down and complete an urgent task or project.

But these interruptions are too hard to ignore since these sounds can disrupt your thought process. As a result, you may find you take longer to finish your tasks when you’re working in a noisy environment. But, by simply moving to a quiet working space, you’re able to keep your attention on your tasks and work on them with improved efficiency — increasing your productivity multiple times over.

Key Takeaway

Even though some level of noise is unavoidable in modern society, the benefits of working in a quiet environment may be the key to productive and enjoyable work life.

Need somewhere quiet and peaceful for you and your team to work? Check out Workplays — the best coworking space in BF Homes, Aguirre. Contact us today, and we’ll get back to you on our offers, and can even help you schedule a visit!

5 Signs Of Stress At Work

What are the signs of stress at work?

Mood swings
Becoming withdrawn
Less motivation, initiative, and creativity
Headaches and fatigue
Skin problems

Almost all employees work hard at their job. At their best, they can do what they’re being paid to do really well. But as the stress levels go up, some employees start performing below what they’re capable of. And it’s usually those who don’t detect the signs of stress at work that get affected badly.

Sometimes, we got so engrossed in our work that we don’t notice how much it’s already affecting our bodies, our minds, the output that we produce, and even our relationships. That’s why we should know the signs of too much stress so we can address them properly.

Here, we talk about some signs that you should look out for at work to know if you’re getting way too stressed. Keep reading to learn more!

Mood Swings

Have you had to deal with an irate coworker? Cut them some slack. Maybe they’re experiencing more stress than they can take. One of the biggest signs of stress at work is if they start having mood swings even if they normally don’t.

Stress can easily overwhelm us, and it could translate to being irritable or snapping at people. You could also become too emotional. Do you become tearful at small things? Do you suddenly get aggressive? Maybe it’s a sign of excessive stress. This not only affects productivity, but also the morale of the rest of the team, so it’s best to address this problem right away and take some time off.

Becoming Withdrawn

In addition to the occasional mood swing, you might find yourself being withdrawn when you’re too stressed. Everything becomes too tiring and even interacting with your teammates could become too much for you. When was the last time you chatted casually with a coworker? Have you recently turned down anyone who tried to start a conversation with you? Try checking yourself and assess if the stress is getting to you.

Less Motivation, Initiative, and Creativity

The double-edged sword of stress will also affect how much you want to work. As mentioned earlier, it can affect the amount and quality of your work, no matter how competent you are. If you don’t handle stress well, you could notice that you no longer enjoy what you are doing or that everything seems monotonous.

Headaches and Fatigue

Stress can definitely affect our physical health in more ways than we realize. Getting too stressed at work could lead to headaches, sometimes even migraines. If you’ve been popping a painkiller pill for your headache a bit too often recently, it could be caused by stress.

Excessive levels of stress would also leave you feeling tired all of the time, especially if you’re losing sleep because of work.

Skin Problems

Because of stress, your skin could develop disorders. Developing an acne breakout because of stress is more common than you think. The problem with this is it could affect your self-esteem as well, pushing you down the negative spiral even more. To avoid getting these disorders, try keeping yourself healthy and managing your stress so it doesn’t affect you too badly.

Key Takeaway

With all these signs of stress at work, you would be surprised when you experience them but don’t notice them. They creep up at you and you’ll see in hindsight that it should have been obvious. Still, being aware of the signs and being vigilant towards yourself helps in preventing any worse effects.

Sometimes, a change of setting is all we need to do our work without external stresses. That’s why Workplays, a co-working space, aims to create an environment that’s conducive to working. We cater to freelancers, startups, small businesses, and anyone else who needs a new place to work. Read more about our pandemic protocols and answers to frequently asked questions here, or contact us for any inquiries!

3 Effects Of Overtime On Productivity

What are the effects of overtime on productivity?

Negative health effects
Safety issues
Higher absenteeism

It is alarming to see many workers today work beyond their given working hours, and sometimes they’re even proud of it. There are many reasons why overtime should not be encouraged, as even employers will feel the negative effects it may have. More importantly, one of its greatest casualties is productivity. The effects of overtime on productivity should make it a priority problem to be addressed.

It’s tempting to go the extra mile and work overtime especially if we have a lot of things to get done. However, those efforts are not as effective in the long run. Here, we’ll talk about some possible ways that overtime can affect your productivity. Keep reading to learn more!

Negative Health Effects

The most obvious effect of overtime is the way it can impact our health negatively. Rest is an essential part of our life. It should be considered as important as food and water as we can’t survive without them. Working overtime will surely have negative effects on your physical and mental health. Too much work can lead to overfatigue, burnout, body pains, depression, and other ailments that would stop you from working anyway. Because of these, your productivity will drop in the long run. The most productive version of yourself is the healthy version of yourself, so if you want to get more done, take care of yourself, take a break, and don’t overexert your efforts.

Safety Issues

For some jobs, working overtime can also bring about safety issues. This applies even more to largely physical jobs or workers who work with powerful machinery. As humans, we all have our limits. The more time we spend on the job, the more exhausted we get. We become less attentive, physically weaker, and have slower reaction times. If you work overtime, the effects might be worse for you, making you more prone to mistakes. And if you’re a worker at a nuclear plant, a construction site, or a hospital, these mistakes could lead to catastrophes such as fatal accidents.

Higher Absenteeism

This is another example of the paradox of going overtime to get more work done. If you log extra hours to extra work, the fatigue will eventually get to you. And if you experience burnout, it wouldn’t be easy to shake, leading to a higher absenteeism rate for you. This applies even more if you get a bad physical health condition. Instead of risking your health for extra work, try managing your time better instead of giving too much for one thing.

Key Takeaway

Overall, the effects of overtime on productivity are negative. In fact, they show that you even be less productive in the long run. You would be exposed to health and safety issues which would lead to absenteeism and turnover rates going up. That’s why we advise you to avoid overtime as much as possible.

One way to get work done without having to go overtime is by doing it in a conducive working space. At Workplays, it is our mission to provide a good co-working space for workers, startups, or small businesses. Read more about our pandemic protocols and answers to other frequently asked questions here, or contact us for any inquiries!

How to Retain Employees During COVID

What are some ways employers can retain employees during COVID?

Create a safe and comfortable working environment
Be flexible whenever possible
Encourage new connections between employees
Make employee wellness a priority

Managing employees has always been tricky for employers, but as the pandemic drags on, it is apparent that one of the most prominent problems for companies everywhere now is how to retain their employees despite the COVID unemployment crisis. Adding onto that, the workforce now has new demands and expectations when it comes to their working environment.

Luckily, with many companies shifting their priorities towards flexibility, technology, safety, and transparency, there are many new ways for employers to overcome this problem. Below are 4 practices you can integrate into your office’s day-to-day in order to boost employee retention – all while keeping your employees safe from COVID and working remotely at home.

Create A Safe And Comfortable Working Environment

An employer should consider the safety of their employees beyond the usual physical safety protocols. Even while working at home, creating a safe and comfortable online working environment for everyone is important. In fact, one can say that it is of greater importance nowadays to make sure your employees don’t feel isolated in their work. Instead, they should be able to feel that they are part of a healthy and supportive environment, where they feel that they can work to the fullest.

This may be difficult as working remotely may make your employees feel disconnected from the working environment. So it is important to emphasize communication and transparency between teams and management. Open communication helps cultivate the feeling of a safe and comfortable working environment even during a crisis, where employees don’t have to worry about their job security, or other issues such as gossiping, secrecy, or cyberbullying.

When this type of working environment is created, employees tend to feel more secure in their roles and are less likely to consider other employment options.

Be Flexible Whenever Possible

While ‘flexibility’ in the workplace became a hot topic at the beginning of the pandemic, it is more complicated than just merely shifting to remote work. Flexibility in work may look different for everyone and depends on the expectations of the employees and the capabilities of the employers.

Flexibility for some employees may mean changing their work times in order to accommodate other responsibilities to home and family, while another employee may consider flexibility to be what apps they are allowed to use when communicating with their teammates.

Since there are many ways that employees can consider flexibility in their schedules, responsibilities, and procedures, it is important for employers to communicate with them in order to establish boundaries, guidelines, and rules around flexibility in order to keep everyone on the same page. This also allows employers to take into account new ways to ease workflows between employees, as well as increase productivity and overall happiness.

Encourage New Connections Between Employees

Like with most things about working in an office, the pandemic has restricted the social interactions that employees used to experience on a daily basis. If your team is working remotely, it may be hard for them to socialize, particularly with new hires. Nowadays, many social connections have to be done with more intention and planning than before. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but employers should make sure to encourage these connections

It’s important to reintroduce the social aspect of work virtually. This can be done by incorporating activities such as online games, icebreakers, and even planned company meals over ZOOM during workdays in order to help your employees bond, give them a sense of belonging, and allow them to destress after work.

Make Employee Wellness A Priority

While working remotely allows many companies to ensure that their employees are staying physically well, employees’ mental wellness is something that was negatively affected, which was particularly apparent at the beginning of the pandemic. When considering employee wellness, employers should also pay attention to their mental state and how their employees are dealing with remote work.

Regular check-ins with employees and teams are one way that employers can check on their employee’s personal situations. A simple “How are you doing?” is an underrated way of showing your employees that they have a support system they can rely on when they are struggling. Following this question up with sincere acknowledgements, empathy, and sympathy are great ways to further enforce their trust in that support system.

Other than that, making sure that your employees are given enough time to destress and recharge before their next day of work is a simple way of helping them maintain that mental wellness. Encouraging your employees to take rest when needed with things like paid time off helps them prioritize and take care of their wellbeing without worrying about the consequences.

Key Takeaway

The pandemic has highlighted many previous problems for employers and has pushed many to reconsider the ways that they communicate with their employees. Learning how to retain employees during COVID, in particular, is something that has concerned many companies well into the pandemic.

Employers should not overlook their abilities to innovate and improve employee engagement. In order to retain employees, employers should pay extra attention to the needs of their employees while keeping them engaged and happy with their roles in the company. When employees’ needs are met, retention becomes less of an issue.

5 Tips to Avoid Overtime at Work

What are some tips to avoid overtime at work?

Manage your workload
Lessen distractions
Stick to a schedule
Know your limits
Take short breaks

If there’s anything that the average employee hates more than working a stagnating job, it’s having to handle excessive work above their paygrade. You might have found yourself in the same situation before — working an extra three hours on top of your already grueling 9 or 8-hour shift just to meet a deadline. Without any knowledge of tips to avoid overtime at work, don’t expect yourself to clock out as soon as your shift ends.

Fortunately, there are things that you can do to lessen instances of overtime. Through knowing the best ways of managing your workload, lessening distractions, and knowing your limits, it’s certainly possible. Read on to learn more.

Manage Your Workload

Managing your workload is easier said than done, but once you get the hang of it, then it’ll be second-nature to you.

This can be done by making a list of your priorities. Work on tasks that you need to finish within the day first, as this helps get the most crucial work out of the way. Then, you’ll want to move on to the simpler and more menial tasks that don’t really require much of your brainpower.

Contrary to what people might tell you, don’t try to multitask in your work. Instead, focus on a single thing at a time, as this makes your job less overwhelming and more productive.

Lessen Distractions

If your office has a strict, no-cellphone policy during working hours, then distractions are few and far in between. In the absence of one, however, then you might be victim to pesky disturbances that can chip away at your precious time.

As much as possible, you’d want to reduce any source of distractions especially if you’re working from home. Keep away all devices such as smartphones, handheld consoles, television sets, or virtually anything that may take your attention away from what you actually need to get done.

Stick to a Schedule

Not many employees will be too thrilled about the idea of sticking to a schedule at work. After all, no day is the same — it’s certain that you’ll be met with many unexpected work encounters that may push back the time you need to devote to your tasks.

However, you should at least try your best to come up with a daily work schedule that you can work with.

Try giving yourself a time limit by which you can accomplish a single work-related activity. Doing this allows you to gauge the level of your productivity and efficiency over time.

Know Your Limits

Sure, it’s great if you always try going beyond the call of duty regarding your work. You don’t mind taking in more tasks that aren’t really within the scope of your job description — but is this really something that you can sustain in the long run?

Saying “no” to your superiors or colleagues can be something that you might have difficulty with, but you should be able to know your limits and assert yourself.

When you really cannot take on more work other than what you already have on your plate, it’s time to let your colleagues know that you simply cannot get it done within the day. Give them an idea of just how mentally and physically demanding your workload is. Stand your ground and don’t give in to their requests, even if they try to convince you otherwise.

Take Short Breaks

You might be thinking that taking breaks is counterproductive to avoid working overtime, but it doesn’t always have to be the case.

A great reason why you should make it a habit to take breaks is so that you don’t burn out fast. Remember: the life of an employee is a marathon and not a sprint. Becoming the best version of an employee that you could be is all about doing things in a more sustainable manner.

When you’re taking breaks, you’re re-energizing yourself just in time to take on the next set of tasks that you have to finish. In this way, you’ll be able to get the job done more efficiently and productively. You won’t find yourself slacking off and just letting precious time pass.

Key Takeaway

Some of the best tips to avoid overtime at work include the following: managing your workload, sticking to a schedule, knowing your limits, taking short breaks, and lessening distractions.

Although making these best work practices can be difficult in the beginning, it’s all about taking it slow and giving yourself time to adjust. Do them consistently and you’ll soon find yourself a happier and healthier employee.

Coping with Work Stress During COVID-19

How do you cope with work stress during COVID-19?

Educate yourself about covid-19
Establish a healthy routine
Talk to other people
Enjoy your free time

There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused stress for many people. The fear of the virus and the abrupt change in the normal way of living have affected people negatively. But life must go on and people must keep on working to live. It is important to still enjoy life while staying safe. Today we listed down the ways on how to cope with work stress during COVID-19. Read on!

Educate Yourself About COVID-19

People experience anxiety nowadays due to the fear of the virus. It will affect you the more you don’t know. That’s why it’s important to educate yourself about COVID-19 and the dos and don’ts that go with it. Focus on the things that you can do, like limiting going outside, social distancing, wearing face masks and shields, and disinfecting regularly. When you have knowledge about the virus and how you can avoid it, your anxiety will lessen. Knowledge is power!

Establish A Healthy Routine

The pandemic has changed our work routines, whether we work on the front lines or from home. During this time our health became our number one priority. But not having a routine can be stressful. It can feel like you have so many things to do but you do not have time to do them.

After working for some time at these tough times, you may now have a rough idea of the tasks and responsibilities that you need to complete. Take time to reflect on what you need to prioritize and what work demands you need to do per day. Think back to the routine you had before the pandemic. Rest your mind from work after work hours. Do not forget the important things you do to take care of yourself. This includes eating right, exercising, and sleeping enough at night. Having a set time for these things will ensure that you get enough rest every day.

In these uncertain times, we can only make some effort in the things that we can control, and that includes our routine. Having a routine can be less stressful because it can make you more productive and as time goes by you will get used to the daily tasks. Remember to include rest and play in your routine for a balanced work and life.

Talk to Other People

Nowadays people feel high levels of stress due to the fear of the COVID-19 virus, anxiety about their jobs, and loneliness because of being stuck at home. Other people choose to keep it to their selves instead of opening up about their emotions.

Talk to your manager if you feel that your workload is affecting your mental and physical well-being. Your supervisor or manager will know best about the responsibilities you have and the role you take at work.

Don’t bottle up your feelings and open up to trusted people. Having a shoulder to lean on will help with your emotional well-being. Know that other people are probably experiencing the same things and you are not alone. You can do this!

Enjoy Your Free Time

As a front liner or remote worker, most of your mental or physical strength may be already be depleted at work. During this pandemic, it is hard to enjoy your free time because of health worries and long hours at work. Enjoy your free time, relax your mind, and avoid burnout. There are many things you can do at home, especially now that you have more time with your family. You can also spend some alone time if you prefer. Reward yourself for doing great at work, you deserve it!

Key Takeaway

Now that the new normal has changed it is important to know the ways on how to cope with work stress during COVID-19. Educate yourself about the virus and how you can protect yourself and loved ones, establish a routine that will make everyday life more manageable, talk to your manager about high-levels of stress and how to solve it, and always make time for relaxing and spending time with your loved ones. Here is to hoping to a more enjoyable work-life during the pandemic!

4 Effective Tips for Managing a Team During the Pandemic

How do you manage a team during COVID-19?

Determine What Roles That Can Be Done Remotely
Prepare Employees for Frontline or Remote Work
Frequently Check On Your Team
Stay Connected

If you are a team leader, the pandemic will test your skills in managing a team. Several establishments have sent their employees home for remote work to prioritize health. But some establishments cannot operate without employees reporting for work in the office or establishment. As a team leader, it is important to know how to manage a team during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read on to learn more!

Determine What Roles That Can Be Done Remotely

Not all kinds of work can be done from home. Some examples of this are frontline work in the hospital, pharmacy, food establishment, transportation, and security. As a team leader, you have to determine what roles can be done at home, and what roles are not. Prioritize health and safety as much as possible and send workers home.

Prepare Employees for Frontline or Remote Work

Now that you have determined which stays at the business establishment and who goes home, you have to prepare your team for some changes. Make sure to lessen or remove the risk of exposure of your front liners by following health and safety guidelines mandated by the government. Provide personal protective equipment and disinfecting products to your team. Sanitize your business establishment regularly and install protective shields such as transparent acrylic glasses.

For remote workers, ensure that they have all the technological equipment ready for remote work. Teach your team about the required applications and tools because not all people are technically-savvy in the latest hardware and software.

Frequently Check On Your Team

These uncertain times will be hard for everyone including you. Understand that everyone will need time to adjust to these changes. Frequently check on your team not just to supervise their work but also to learn how they are doing mentally. With remote work, some people will have to juggle responsibilities in the home. On the other hand, frontline work is also difficult because of health risks. Always monitor their health regularly.

Remind your team about their tasks and also the importance of their contributions. Be compassionate and always appreciate your team members on their effort in these tough times.

Stay Connected

Communication is vital in these times because everyone is scattered in different places. Always have a communication channel that is consistently open during work hours. This way your team will be able to voice out their concern easily.

Schedule video meetings regularly so you can align your team members about important matters. Chat and messages are useful but being able to see your team’s faces and reactions can help you stay connected.

Confirm in written communication all the important things that should be said clearly. This is to avoid verbal miscommunication and misunderstandings.

Key Takeaway

Now you know how to manage a team during COVID-19. As a leader, you are the one that they look up to as the decision-maker. Know what roles can be done at home so you can remove the risk of exposure to your team. Prepare them and give them time to adjust to the changes. Your team is your responsibility so it is important to check up on them frequently. Always keep the communication line open to keep everyone connected. It may be hard to supervise and manage a team in these tough times but the key here is to trust your team.

A Beginner’s Guide to Working Remotely

What are some good tips for remote working?

Find A Perfect Location
Over-Communicate
Be Equipped with the Right Tools
Find A Routine That Works For You

Remote working has been more prevalent during the past few years, more so now, that the COVID-19 pandemic has made it a great option for employees to stay safe and secure. If you’re new to remote working, it can impose a few challenges. It is completely different from the way you work on your 9-5. But, don’t worry, we’ve got some of the best practices for you. We’ve curated a complete guide on how to work remotely for beginners! This will make your transition as seamless and comfortable as possible. You’re bound to nail the remote working life before you know it.

Find A Perfect Location

Now that you are not working in an office setting, you have all the freedom to choose where you’re going to work. Location matters more than you think. It is one of the essential keys to succeeding in working remotely. So, make sure to choose it wisely.

If you opt to work from home, there are some adjustments you need to make. It can be challenging to make yourself actively and productively work as there are so many distractions around and it is so easy to be comfortable. Make sure that you allocate a separate area for exclusively doing work. If you don’t have a separate room to use as an office, choose a corner or a space that is quiet, not distracting, and well-lit.

Or, it’s best to just choose a co-working space instead. By doing this, you are solidifying a place to be in “work mode” which can increase your productivity.

Over-Communicate

We all know that communication is essential in the professional environment. While in a typical office situation, your co-workers are just a tap away, on a remote work setup, you no longer have this luxury. Because of this, it is even more important to communicate to ensure that everyone is on the same page and there are no misunderstandings. If you have any questions, make sure to clarify and double-check, and never hesitate to ask for help when you need it.

Be Equipped with the Right Tools

As a remote worker, your job will depend on your tools, specifically, technology. Ensure that you are equipped with everything you need. Make sure you have all the platforms and software downloaded for your job. Apart from this, make sure you have a reliable device and Wi-Fi connection. Other great investments to have while working remotely are noise-canceling headphones, a place to co-work in, a mouse, or maybe even a second screen. Trust us, these will all be integral to productivity and proficiency.

Find A Routine That Works for You

One of the top things employees love about working remotely is flexibility. You are given more time and freedom. However, for people who are so used to a routine, it can be fairly challenging. But it’s all about maximizing and using the time wisely.

Key Takeaway

Remote working has definitely been beneficial for everyone, especially during these times. However, if you’re new to the setup, it can take some time to get used to. But it doesn’t have to be as challenging. This guide on how to work remotely for beginners has all the best practices you need to nail your remote working life. Looking for a place to remote work? Click here to see how Workplays can help you!

Office Meal Ideas to Increase Your Immunity

What are some of the office meal ideas that can increase your immunity?

Avocado Toast
Lemon Chicken
Garlic Broccoli Stir Fry
Yogurt Oatmeal

Let’s admit it. Sticking to an office meal plan is tricky under normal conditions. With the quarantine regulations forcing companies to adopt remote work, this becomes even more challenging.

You might have experienced being on a conference call and sprinting to the kitchen just to eat something to fill your empty stomach. Or maybe you munch on unhealthy chips all day while working. These scenarios prove that maintaining a healthy diet is easier said than done when you’re working from home.

However, this is not the time to overlook proper nutrient intake. Now more than ever is when you’ll need to boost your immune system. With that, we’ve rounded up some office meal ideas to increase your immunity!

Avocado Toast

Before you start your day, it will take more than a cup of coffee to ensure that your body receives the nutrients it needs. Just as the saying goes, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day”.

Try making an easy to make Avocado Toast. Avocados are not only flavorful but they contain vitamins A, C, and E which have immune-boosting properties as well. Consuming this breakfast meal will help your body fight off bacterial attacks.

Ingredients

1 avocado, peeled and seeded
½ teaspoon lemon juice
Pinch of salt and pepper
⅛ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon olive oil
2 slices of bread of choice

Instructions

In a bowl, put in the avocado, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
Mash with the back of a fork.
Toast the slices of bread until crispy.
Spread the mashed mixture on each slice.
Drizzle with olive oil. You can sprinkle over your desired toppings as well.

Lemon Chicken

For lunchtime, it would be best to eat a heavier meal that’s rich in protein. Eating Lemon Chicken will not only be filling, but it will energize you for the rest of the office hours as well!

Chickens are high in vitamin B-6 which plays a vital role in forming healthy red blood cells. On the other hand, lemon is an excellent source of vitamin C. The potent antioxidant helps your body ward off infections and diseases.

Ingredients

3 chicken breast fillets
Salt and pepper to taste
⅓ cup flour
1 tablespoon oil
4 tablespoons butter
1 ½ teaspoon garlic, minced
½ cup chicken broth
3 tablespoons lemon juice

Instructions

Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
In a shallow dish, sprinkle both sides of the chicken with flour.
Over medium-high heat, add oil and butter.
Sear both sides of the chicken until golden brown.
In a separate pan, sauté the garlic.
Pour in the chicken broth and lemon juice.
Let the mixture simmer and reduce the heat.
Add the butter.
Add in the cooked chicken to the skillet.
Serve warm.

Garlic Broccoli Stir Fry

Garlic contains a key compound called allicin. Allicin boosts the disease-fighting response of the body’s white cells. According to a study, garlic can even contribute to the prevention of major illnesses such as gastric ulcers and heart problems.

On the other hand, broccoli is a good source of vitamins and contains powerful phytochemicals that neutralize free radicals.

Consuming a Garlic Broccoli Stir Fry meal is sure to boost your immune system. So get cooking and whip up this hearty meal with only eight ingredients!

Ingredients

1 tablespoon oil
4 large garlic cloves, minced
1 ½ cup broccoli
¼ cup chicken broth
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water

Instructions

Boil the broccoli.
Drain the water.
In a pan, sauté the garlic until golden brown.
Add in the broccoli.
Add in the chicken broth.
Season with salt and pepper.
Once the broccoli is cooked, add in the cornstarch and water to thicken the sauce.
Serve with rice and enjoy!

Yogurt Oatmeal

Even if you had a good breakfast or lunch you would feel quite hungry after a few hours. This just shows that your body is burning the fuel while you’re working. Instead of grabbing unhealthy sugary foods or salty potato chips, munch on a healthy snack like Yogurt Oatmeal.

Yogurt is a good source of probiotics that can stimulate the immune system and reduce the likeliness of catching diseases. It is also rich in vitamin A, Zinc, and Vitamin D.

Before you recreate this meal, remember to look for yogurts that have live and active cultures. Avoid getting the ones that are loaded with sugar as well. Plain yogurt can be sweetened with healthy fruits instead.

Ingredients

½ cup oats
Pinch of salt
1 ¼ cup milk
¼ cup yogurt
Fruit toppings (optional)

Instructions

In a pot, add oats and salt.
Combine the milk and stir.
Cook over medium-high heat.
Remove it from the heat.
Stir in the yogurt.
Transfer the oatmeal to a bowl and top with your choice of fruit toppings.
Serve!

Key Takeaway

Stick to a healthy office meal plan. While it may be tempting to neglect nutritious food options and just grab anything you can see in the kitchen, this won’t do any good for your overall health. Give your body a fighting chance to combat viruses today!