The COVID-19 coronavirus crisis has led to multiple changes in our society, including the transition for many individuals to working primarily in their own homes. Some of us are fortunate enough to be able to work from home. Teleworking comes with its own set of challenges, like being around distractions, not being able to see coworkers in person, and getting antsy, all of which can lead to being less productive and balanced. Luckily, there are a few simple steps you can take to help improve your teleworking experience!

1. Get Outside, Safely

• Being cooped up indoors can cause people to go a bit stir crazy, especially in the outdoorsy northwest. As long as you are in keeping with state and local emergency actions, taking a break to get outside for a quick walk in the sun is still allowed if social distancing is in place.

2. Create a Separate Section for your Workspace

• Don't spend too much time in one area of your home. If you can, designate one area for your work that you can distinguish from the rest of your living quarters. This will help with the separation of work and home life when the workday is done.

3. Video Chat with Your Friends, Family and Coworkers

• Human interaction is important for everyone. Use video chat software to connect with your colleagues during the day to improve your workflow and catch with your friends and family to keep the good times going.
• Need help getting started? Try a search on YouTube to find the best ways to video chat. Popular methods include using software such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Skype.

Teleworking Survey

We recently sent out a teleworking survey, where commuters had a chance to provide us with feedback on how their work-from-home experience is going and what tips they have to share. Here are a few submissions we received that you may find helpful:

• "Stick to your regular routine as much as possible. Whether that is exercise, grooming, taking a break at a specific time, or anything else. Some activities will need to be adjusted (like figuring out how to keep to an exercise routine without going to a gym or making lunch if you usually eat out) but the more you can keep "normal" the easier it will be to cope with the things that do need to change."
• "Prep the night before for snacks and breakfast and lunch."
• "Shower even if you don't want to."

During these trying times, it's best to make the most out of our teleworking situations. We hope these tips and tricks will help make your workdays better. Remember to wash your hands, avoid crowds and stay safe!

*Are you an essential worker unable to work from home? How is your commute during these times, and do you have any tips that can help others in this situation? If you live in Bellevue, work in Bellevue, or both, tell us your story here to potentially be featured in a future CYWB blog post.

-Choose Your Way Bellevue staffer Alex