Over the last two years, it seems as if the Coronavirus we now know and hate as COVID-19 has had more comebacks than a 90s boyband. It seems as just as cases and infections are on the decline, and normality is allowed to resume, along comes a new COVID variant to spoil our plans.

The latest pesky variant is known as Omicron, and while there is evidence to suggest it is less severe, it is unfortunately much, much, much more contagious which is why work and life in general has been so disrupted over the last few months.

As more and more people swap their home offices and spare rooms for an actual, bricks and mortar office, it’s clear that we need to know how to work properly and manage our workloads with the ever-present threat of COVID and the restrictions and red tape that goes with it.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re working from home still, or if just returned to the office, here’s a look at how we can all work properly in the midst of the ongoing COVID outbreak.

 

Make sure you’re comfortable

 

One of the worst things about sitting at a desk for hours on end is the fact that it can have such a detrimental effect on your posture and overall comfort levels.

Sitting for prolonged periods of time can cause all manner of health issues, which is why it’s so important to invest in comfortable and supportive office furniture like a home office desk, or an ergonomic office chair such as the SOLOS Ergonomic Chair.

If you’re comfortable you’ll be in a better mood, morale will be higher, and you’ll be able to get more done as your productivity levels will have increased too.

 

Use the correct furniture and accessories

 

Sticking with the theme of being comfortable and supported in the workplace, another tip for staying on track to meet those deadlines in the midst of this pandemic is to ensure you use the correct furniture and accessories.

Make sure your computers are new and responsive, ensure you have a strong WI-FI connection, and make sure the office furniture you use is up to scratch.

A good quality home office desk such as the SOLOS V2 Premium Standing Desk for example, is perfect as it is spacious, it’s sturdy, and it was designed with productivity in mind. As it is a standing desk you can work while standing and sitting and adjust the height with the push of a button. There’s also heaps more features like an anti-collision system, a powerful 2-motor design, and much more besides.

A worker is only as good as his or her tools and if you’re working in an office, things like a computer, an ergonomic chair, and a home office desk are your tools, so choose them wisely.

 

Clean and sanitize your workspace

 

Whether in the midst of a pandemic or not, hygiene in the workplace is always something which should be encouraged.

Germs and bacteria responsible for causing viruses and illnesses are all around us, and can easily spread from one surface to the next, especially if cleanliness standards begin to fall.

To help protect you, and others, from illness in the workplace, and also to help keep everything clean, tidy, and hygienic, be sure to keep your workspace clean and sanitized. Consider keeping a sanitizing, anti-bacterial spray on your desk, along with disposable wipes and every so often wipe down the desk and any contact points where bacteria will be allowed to build up.

As well as your desk, consider this for other contact points such as door handles, elevator buttons, and so on.

Not only will keeping everything clean help ensure it’s more hygienic, you’ll also find that everything looks cleaner and nicer and that it smells much more pleasant as well.

 

If working from home, give yourself a rota

 

In the early stages of the pandemic, many people thought that they would be able to live out their dreams by waking up later, not having to travel to work, and being able to work in the PJs. After a while however, the novelty wore off and people found it hard to stay disciplined to work.

People began working erratic hours, wasting time on their phones, starting work late, running errands during the day, and generally struggling to stick to a schedule. Needless to say, their productivity levels and output levels suffered.

If your office has a COVID outbreak, if you’re forced to isolate, or if you simply work from home anyways, it’s important to give your days some structure. Don’t start work at 9AM one day, and 11.30AM the next day, instead, set specific working hours and stick to them, just as you would in the office.

 

Communicate with others

 

Unless you are self-employed and don’t need to communicate with other people for business purposes, it’s vital to ensure that you communicate with other people relevant to your work.

After months of isolation, people may be in the habit of handling work alone when in reality communication is key to the success of any business. If there is a specific report that you’re working on for example, be sure to let your colleagues and/or employer know what you’re working on, and when you estimate it will be complete.

Meetings are important for many reasons, so even if you can’t return to the office yet, be sure to attend meetings on virtual software such as Teams or Zoom.

 

Speak to your employer if you have any concerns

 

Finally, if you do have any concerns, either regarding the pandemic, work, or a combination of both, be sure to speak to your employer and raise any concerns you may have with them.

Remember, COVID is a very real threat and your safety, and the safety of others, is of paramount importance so if anything is bothering you, be sure to speak to employer and see what they can do to rectify the issues.