Working from home – a day in my life!

Whilst working from home has some major benefits and the flexibility is great, I found it difficult. I thrive when talking to and working with other people and it's one of the many reasons I love working in the hospitality industry – it's fun, social and fast-paced. Working in isolation can be very lonely.

I really had to teach myself how to switch off at the end of the day and take time away from my computer to get fresh air. It took some time to build a new routine. They say it takes an average of 66 days for new behaviours to become automatic, so I had to stick to it and push myself to build a better work-life balance. I had to do it, because the alternative was burn-out.

In a comms role, we spend a lot of time writing and sharing wellbeing messages and guidance with employees without taking a step back to think about our own mental health. It is really important to do that. My motto is to do one thing every day that brings me joy!

Like lots of people, the pandemic gave me a lot of time to evaluate my professional and personal goals. In the last few months, I've moved to a new house and accepted a new job, which I start in September. The process of applying for jobs and interviewing for a new role has been different, but I think the pandemic has had a positive impact on it.

I live in Shropshire but the role I'll be doing from September is based in London. I found there were lots of remote roles being advertised post-pandemic, which is great to see. Many hiring managers are more than happy to discuss flexible working because it is the "new normal". This filled me with lots of confidence because the ability to work remotely meant I was able to apply for jobs I never thought I would be able to physically do.

And (stick with me now!), I really enjoyed virtual interviews! Despite some normal nerves, I felt a bit more relaxed as I didn't have to worry about a stressful commute, finding a parking space and being on time (but not too early!). It's the way forward!

The future of work does look different and it brings new challenges for comms pros, both in terms of how we work and how we communicate with remote workforces. Flexibility in the workplace will definitely stay at the top of my priorities list.