This has not been an easy year, but if we’ve learned anything, it’s that we’re all in it together. The global north, south, east, west — no country has come away unscathed. For the families who have lost loved ones, we send our most heartfelt sympathies. And for the millions of people around the world who have had to endure strict lockdowns, you have our support.

We hope that you and those around you are and remain safe. We are privileged to have you as a customer, friend, and collaborator. In this unprecedented situation, we have been working hard to continue serving you and provide the best and most current information available. Thank you for your business, your friendship, and your trust. We wish you a very happy holiday season and only good things in the year to come.

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As it goes, every New Year we start out with high hopes and aspirations for the year ahead. It begins with an optimistic to-do list and lots of achievable goals we set for ourselves, both at home and in the workplace. But 2020 presented some unexpected turbulence and, for many, home became the workplace.  It happened so quickly that we had to “improvise”, “make do”, “fake it until we made it”. Individuals and companies alike had to find new ways of getting things done.

In this “new normal”, more people have become aware of the struggle remote workers face, with long, strange hours and having a tendency to work too much. When we live and work in the same place, the lines can become blurred and we become at risk of being “always on”.

Because this year has been particularly stressful, it’s extra important that we find ways to protect our time, implement strong boundaries between work and play, and get the maximum amount of rest we need to feel inspired, creative, and productive.  A good way to do this is to practice self-care, not just some days, but everyday. Self-care has many facets and the definition really depends on who you ask. It’s safe to say it’s a personal journey.

You can download our free tips our self-care tips that may benefit you. These tips are not specific to remote workers, but something everyone can try.

Through it all, one remarkable thing that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us is that working remotely at scale is achievable, and for many employees, desirable on a full-time and sustained basis. Across the globe, workers in various industries had to shift to remote working without warning. Even the companies and employees that were initially resistant to the concept have been forced to embrace it, and with that has come acceptance. Now, less than a year later, our makeshift workstations have become thriving virtual offices, and technology has become our friend. We’ve all lived through the pros and cons of video conferencing and have hopefully found ways of managing “meeting fatigue”.

Aside from the personal difficulties, we’ve also learned that how we do things in the office doesn’t always translate the same remotely. One area of concern is how we can feel connected when we’re not together.  How do we celebrate our team when we can only meet virtually? Although it does take a little more effort, team building on remote teams is essential to maintaining good rapport amongst co-workers and keeping everyone motivated and productive.

This has not been an easy year, but if we’ve learned anything, it’s that we’re all in it together. The global north, south, east, west — no country has come away unscathed. For the families who have lost loved ones, we send our most heartfelt sympathies. And for the millions of people around the world who have had to endure strict lockdowns, you have our support.

We hope that you and those around you are and remain safe. We are privileged to have you as a customer, friend and collaborator.  In this unprecedented situation, we have been working hard to continue serving you and provide the best and most current information available. Thank you for your business, your friendship, and your trust. We wish you a very happy holiday season and only good things in the year to come.

 


Podcast production by Podcast Monster

Graphic design by Alfred Boland

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More resources

Remote Resources during the Corona Virus

159 – Self Care Tips For Remote Workers And Beyond

245 – What does being well-rested feel like?

 

Work Together Anywhere Workshop by Collaboration Superpowers

 

 

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