Written by Sydney Henderson, Communications and Program Support Intern for Arts Work Experience.
Starting an internship remotely was weird, to say the least! From video meetings to deadlines, everything felt so impersonal. I found it was hard to adjust in this remote world! I almost felt like I had to be my own supervisor, which was particularly challenging. However, after a month of working from home, and reading advice from a few thousand articles on working remotely I, a somewhat lazy and scatterbrained 20-something, have successfully managed to find some solid strategies that have worked for me. Whether you are working at home or taking online courses, hopefully you will find some of these strategies helpful too.
Set yourself up for success
However that doesn’t necessarily mean that you need a spare room in your house to create a separate work space. Even if your bedroom is now also your office, creating a space for yourself that tricks your mind into entering “work mode” is very important. My fellow interns have employed a variety of strategies to create a space where they can concentrate. Things like organizing their desks to have everything they need for their work day, cancelling outside noise with headphones (I recommend choosing music without lyrics - they’re too easy to sing along to!), or even hanging up a bedsheet to create walls. Once you have set up your space, use it exclusively for getting your work or studying done. Keep your video games, leisure reading, and tv screens out of sight! If you have housemates, setting firm boundaries as to when they are allowed to interact with you can also be helpful for you and them. No housemate wants to make an accidental appearance in one of your video meetings or lectures!
Create your own deadlines
Before COVID-19, I can honestly say that I was terrible at creating my own deadlines. See, I’m very easily swayed! In the past when I have created a due date for myself, that due date became more of a concept than a reality. Without any sort of repercussions, I could convince myself there were so many other things that I could have been doing than meeting that deadline I created (remember, I’m easily swayed!)
What I hadn’t realized is that going to school everyday was a reminder that deadlines existed. Every time a professor made a reference to a deadline, or I overheard another classmate discussing it, each of these and more served as a reminder of what I needed to get done. Working from home removes those day-to-day reminders. This is why it became super important for me to create my own deadlines and hold myself accountable to them. Organizing your time in such a way that you keep yourself up to date, making checklists or personal schedules, can help you manage your time effectively (google calendars and websites like notion.so are very helpful!).
That being said, take time to relax. Mental health during this time is especially important. Make time for yourself to de-stress - turn off the computer, do something that you love, and reach out to your support system if you need to. Friends, family members, and the Peer Support Centre can be excellent support for you during this time. For me having my family support me during this time has been instrumental.
Video meetings have been a big part of my internship so far. Everyday I have at least one, and they can get pretty exhausting! Starting a new position over video conferencing, has been quite strange to say the least. Something that my fellow interns and I have noticed is often the visual cues of someone’s body language don’t translate as easily and can make understanding communication styles and preferences a little more complicated.
What I’ve noticed works well is maintaining a system of organization within meetings. Having someone moderate or lead meetings is key. With someone moderating, questions are answered more effectively, and participants can easily take turns while speaking, which is really helpful to make sure that everyone isn’t talking over one another. Also, the mute function is super important. While someone sneezing in an in-person meeting might not be too distracting, when you are right next to the mic the sound can really carry. It saves everyone’s ears if you mute your mic, especially if the group you’re in numbers more than 4-5 people.
That being said, take time to relax. Mental health during this time is especially important. Make time for yourself to de-stress - turn off the computer, do something that you love, and reach out to your support system if you need to. Friends, family members, and the Peer Support Centre can be excellent support for you during this time. For me having my family support me during this time has been instrumental.
Video conferencing (without all the noise)
Video meetings have been a big part of my internship so far. Everyday I have at least one, and they can get pretty exhausting! Starting a new position over video conferencing, has been quite strange to say the least. Something that my fellow interns and I have noticed is often the visual cues of someone’s body language don’t translate as easily and can make understanding communication styles and preferences a little more complicated.
What I’ve noticed works well is maintaining a system of organization within meetings. Having someone moderate or lead meetings is key. With someone moderating, questions are answered more effectively, and participants can easily take turns while speaking, which is really helpful to make sure that everyone isn’t talking over one another. Also, the mute function is super important. While someone sneezing in an in-person meeting might not be too distracting, when you are right next to the mic the sound can really carry. It saves everyone’s ears if you mute your mic, especially if the group you’re in numbers more than 4-5 people.
Keeping extra tabs open on your laptop, phone, or computer during a meeting can also be very distracting. It’s so easy to get distracted by YouTube, Instagram, or even other work tasks during video meetings. I have found it helpful to remember that the only person who suffers from getting distracted in a meeting is me. This is why I close all tabs that aren’t relevant to the meeting. If you’re like me, a person who needs to have their hands occupied in order to stay focused, try doodling, playing with a desk toy, or even knitting while listening to a meeting or lecture.
Final Isolation Thoughts...
If there is one thing that I have been missing while in isolation, it’s the feeling of control. Everything seems so uncertain right now, and I know that feeling can be incredibly discouraging. For me, finding that piece of my life that I can control, even if it is something small like a desk space, has been a way for me to feel more sane in a crazy world. Even if your strategies aren’t the same as mine, remember that, there are people out there who are feeling just as isolated as you are. Making deadlines, committing yourself to a schedule, or even reaching out for help not only shows how adaptable you can be, but also how strong you are.
