Remote working and mental health tips through COVID-19 and beyond
Many of us started working remotely nearly overnight due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the UK-wide lockdown that began in March. For many, it has come with challenges to work effectively from home while managing mental health when spending an extended period of time isolated. And even as lockdown measures are being eased, many are still working remotely and are planning to incorporate more flexible working into their business in the future.
The A’Bear & Ball Architects LLP Team has naturally missed in-person interaction with staff in the office and site visits and meetings with clients and consultants. However, we have adapted and made use of a range of virtual communication tools, including Microsoft Teams, to keep in regular contact and to collaborate on designs through the screen share functions.
Personal benefits
During these unprecedented times, we worked more flexibly and focused on having a better work-life balance. Damon, co-founder and partner of A’Bear & Ball Architects, and his wife Felicity saw the birth of their second child, Adeline, in June. Damon took a couple weeks off for paternity leave and working from home has made it possible to spend more time with his family.
Rob, co-founder and partner of the Practice, has spent more time on countryside walks with his dog and has increased his cycling activities, all fitted around helping to ‘home school’ his children. And without having a commute, Architectural Assistant Duncan has been able to spend more time with his partner and one-year-old child. Flexible working has also made it possible for him to share childcare duties with his partner.
At A’Bear & Ball Architects, we now have the capability to work more remotely in the future. This gives our Practice more flexibility moving forward and the ability to create a better work-life balance and improved mental health even after COVID-19.
A new normal
Recently, we spent some time talking with consultants we partner with on how they’ve adapted to a new normal during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hannah Smart and Sarah Murray are the directors of edgeUD, a bespoke Urban Design and Masterplanning practice in Thames, Oxfordshire. They shared how they are adapting and transforming their working habits to thrive even while their office has been closed.
“From #day1, we set ourselves precise times in the day when we would meet up remotely. Each of these meetings has a different purpose, and it is crucial to us that these are not merely catching up on progress with projects. We haven't let physical separation prevent us from connecting. Each member takes responsibility for leading a different social session.
At 9:30am, we have breakfast led by Tereza. We share pictures of our meals and Tereza challenges us to bring an unusual breakfast beverage to mix things up. At 11am, we go for a walk with Sarah, video-sharing our surroundings. At 3pm, Hannah prepares a social, with games such as “would I lie to you?” At 5pm, our wellbeing session, Greta prepares a workout for our edge team. This way, we make sure our day is structured and never dull, and we feel more motivated and productive as we work. We believe that being apart can make us stick together.”
Keep up with edge’s insights on working from home and changes in the construction industry, cities and public spaces during and after the pandemic through their “edge against COVID-19” series of articles.
Alan Divall is the director of Walsingham Planning, specialist planning and development consultants with offices in Buckinghamshire, Bristol and Cheshire. He shared with us the challenges his team have faced and how they’re moving forward.
“In these challenging times, much has changed in the way that we live our daily lives, and much has changed in the planning and development world. As a team, we have been very resilient to the ‘new normal’ that we have found ourselves in over the last five months. Whilst working at home is practical and technically absolutely fine, I know that the team has struggled with the lack of human contact side of remote working and being able to bounce ideas around between us face-to-face.
We had a socially distanced team picnic in July. It was the first time we had all been together in the flesh since March, and everyone seemed to really enjoy it. It certainly gave people a lift, and we will do it again soon whilst we are still in a position where the office is closed to all staff.
Moving forward the team members have all expressed a wish to work at home regularly for one or two days a week when we return to normal. Not having to commute every day gives us all more time in the day, and many have found it easier to concentrate at home. And I am perfectly amenable to this moving forward.”
Check out Walsingham Planning’s insights on how their business and the planning and development sector as a whole is finding a new normal during these challenging times in their summer newsletter.