In March, many members of our community made the transition to working from home. While things are very different, seeing photos of new workspaces (and pets and children and plants and many, many coffee mugs) is a great way to stay connected virtually. We're all in this together and figuring out our new normal day by day.
Enjoy a look at some of the creative workspaces of our community and some advice for effectively working from home.
Do you have a photo of your home workspace you'd like to share with the U of A community? Send photos and a description of what you've done to make the work-from-home transition easier to: blog@ualberta.cablog@ualberta.ca
Office of Lorii Smith, Outreach Coordinator, Faculty of Engineering
Rob Ford, Supervisor Residence Services & Student Engagement, Augustana Campus
I just finished setting up my home office. Braxton, my English Springer
Spaniel, approves!
Donna Richardson, Director of Marketing and Alumni Relations, School of Public Health
To make working remotely easier, I've set up a workstation in a spare bedroom, added a second monitor, dress comfortably, and have my assistant, Zoe, right beside me.
Sarah Bowes, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, University of Alberta International
I live in a small house and having daylight is essential for my well being! I'm in full comfort now, especially having break time with my dog Basil, who keeps me company. Mind you I never knew he sleeps the majority of the day!
Rob Curtis, Alumni Relations Coordinator, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine
We set up a little desk beside me for my three-year-old son Liam, where he can colour and do crafts. It's made it possible for us to spend some time together during the day without making it impossible for me to get any work done!
Mary-Anne Falk, Executive Assistant to the Dean, Augustana Campus
The recent change I've made to make my shift to working remotely easier has been to stick to the same routine I did when I went into the university every day, including making my thermos of tea and packing a piece of fruit. Oh, and I just installed a locking door at the top of the stairs to slow the kids down from coming to see me at work…
Anne McIntosh, Assistant Professor, Augustana - Sciences
I have a very helpful son and animals that are trying their best to emulate students and colleagues stopping by my office and also test-driving my makeshift home office so I don't feel lonely working from home.
Kennedy Anderson, Communications Coordinator, Office of the Registrar
The most important piece of my home office is fresh flowers nearby! Something I've done to help make the shift to working remotely easier is to let the bright light in and getting changed out of my pajamas!
Yolanda Poffenroth, Communications Associate, Women and Children's Health Research Institute
Surrounding my workspace with plants has really helped reduce my stress and my new supervisor, who's a bit of a micromanager, seems to like them too!
Sean Townsend, Copyeditor, folio
I've worked from home in a previous job and some freelance gigs, so it wasn't as much of an adjustment for me. But I am a creature of habit, so what's worked well for me so far is to try to maintain as much of my daily work routine as I can. I eat the same things for breakfast and lunch. I try to get up around noon and lift some weights upstairs. (Not exactly the PAW Centre, but it'll have to do.) And I try to do the same tasks each day at the same time that I would have done them in the office. And I "leave" at about the same time I would have started heading home.
Marysia Wojcik, Junior Content Strategist & Designer, University Relations
I'm very liberal with jumping onto phone calls and video chats with colleagues. It's often so much easier and quicker to clarify something in a real-time conversation rather than an email thread. It also gives me the chance to see how they're doing and stay connected to people I'm used to seeing every day.
Lorelei Betke, Communications and Research Safety Coordinator, Environment, Health & Safety
The first and most important piece of home office setup: proximity to windows! And a wind-up fuzzy chick for stress release. To help make the shift to working remotely easier, I brewed a lot of coffee. A LOT. Crank up "Caravan" (the Whiplash version) to block out fighting children. Effective!
Crystal Wood, Senior HR Communications Officer, Human Resource Services
I made my husband help me paint the office grey because I couldn't stand to work in "olive" another minute.
Joyce Yu, Digital Comm Strategist, Office of Advancement
So, friends, I procrastinated (for 5 months…!!) letting go of my giant dining table that I inherited from the previous owner of my house and now it's the perfect size for my computer set up. Working from home alone has definitely been a ride. I just hope that when we see each other again I don't introduce you to my bear (Big Cutie) and he introduces himself back. (And if he does, I hope we can all be friends.)
Jenna Clarahan, Graphic Designer, Office of the Dean of Students
I live with 7 roommates so it's more like a home shared office. The most important piece of home office set up is a tie between natural light and a room separate from the other living spaces so I don't have to see it when I'm not working.
Sustainability Council
"For my work space, the most important thing was grabbing my mini whiteboard from the office. Can't live without whiteboards!" - Trevor Chow-Fraser
[Clockwise from top] Trevor Chow-Fraser, Mara Metz, Casey Germain
Faculty of Arts
"Since my home office is on my dining room table, at 5 pm on Friday I move my computer back to where it normally lives, thus reclaiming and differentiating my home from my office. My History of 19th Century Art textbook props up my laptop." - Donna McKinnon, Communications Associate
[Clockwise from Top] Office's of Donna McKinnon, Erik Einsiedel, John Eason, and Caitlin Beauchamp
Faculty of Education
Elementary Education prof Jennifer Branch-Mueller turned her sewing room into a home office with an ironing board doubling as a desk. Elementary Education prof Doug Gleddie takes his video conference calls in the river valley. Eating breakfast at her desk might not be the best option for Elementary and Secondary Education's Kateryna Barnes. Elementary Education department chair Jerine Pegg's lil' bird keeps her company while she works.
Offices of Lloyd King, Carmen Person, Sydney Tancowny, and Matthew McCreary
Offices of Junelle Mah, Amanda Anderson, Vivian Lei, and Shannon Fournier
Offices of Jocelyn Love, Virginia Quist, Glynnis Hood, and Kara Blizzard
Offices of Nancy Goebel, Sarah Ross, Hallie Brodie, and Shane Klein.