Working from home is a new experience for a few members of the team at Whitechurch and for individuals all across the country. We thought it would be helpful to share how staff have adapted to this change as well as the challenges faced and tips to help you work from home more effectively. If you would like to gain insight on how our teams have been communicating and servicing clients, keeping fit and maintaining a positive outlook, keep reading!

What is your Working from Home set up?

I’m up at 6am to check on Twix the pup and survey the damage. Quick pit stop outside then its coffee and the news. Family walk at 7.45, back to the desk and ready to go at 8, with coffee number 2 (I really need them in an IV at the moment). I say back at the desk, but my partner and I are both working from home, so we’re taking it in turns to use the desk. Other surfaces are available. My midday break involves lunch and an episode of a comedy show, and a quick round the block with Twix, then back to work. At the end of the day we do another little walk, then home for a cuppa. The walks help punctuate the day and get us some fresh air and exercise. If I’m feeling up to it I try and get a run in too.

How do you feel about the current situation/what do you do that helps you to feel positive?

Working from home is strange. I struggle to differentiate between workdays and weekends, and it’s much harder to switch off. I’m thankful for my puppy, as I couldn’t have given him this much time had I been in the office. I regularly facetime my sisters which helps; the youngest is 15 and hilarious. I’ve got scheduled calls with my 89 year old Nan to check in with her too. It’s not forever but this is the new normal.

What are the challenges?

Twix is only young so needs a fair bit of attention. He commandeers my lap whenever possible, and needs a lot of comfort breaks. Also my desktop monitor isn’t large enough for some of the programs I use, so I’ve had to order a larger one to get the ‘OK’ button in view!

What did you miss doing today?

I miss my colleagues. Don’t get me wrong, I love my little family, but I miss seeing everyone and the social interaction. I also haven’t worn makeup or anything nicer than jeans for a fortnight, so miss the routine of getting ready.

Catriona Evans, Business Development Operations manager

What is your Working from Home set up?

I like to move rooms between my study, kitchen and lounge for different aspects of work so that I get a different surrounding and my back doesn’t get too stiff! Most of the time thought I’m working at my kitchen table so that my husband and I can sit opposite one another and have some company. Luckily, most of my work is based on the computer so hasn’t been too affected by office closures, but I usually attend a lot of meetings so this has meant adapting to remote discussions via Zoom or email where we can. My most enjoyable part of the day is my lunch break, I like to make the most of our allotted one exercise session outside the home and take my dog for a walk exploring our local countryside. This helps me to feel fresh for returning to work for the afternoon. I tend to work beyond 5pm whilst working from home in order to keep me stimulated, but once I finish we take part in an online exercise video in replacement of our evening gym sessions. These have been surprisingly effective and you can definitely still feel that the work-out has been beneficial the day after!

How do you feel about the current situation/what do you do that helps you to feel positive?

I like to focus on the fact that this will one day come to an end and think of everything I look forward to doing when it’s all over. Although it’s a difficult situation, most people have really shown compassion and it’s amazing to see how hard humans can work to save others.

What are the challenges?

PS: Work has managed to continually relatively smoothly for me. My biggest challenges have been in respect of my dog and my husband. It turns out that one of them is an extremely loud typist and enjoys some heavy rock to get into some difficult work (probably to drown out the heavy typing), and the other continually pounces on me for attention. I’ll leave it to you to decide which one is the dog and which is the husband.

What did you miss doing today?

I particularly miss the social interactions from both the office and social events, even the gym surprisingly! But I’ve overcome this by taking walks and exercising in breaks and working late, so there is little downtime. I have created a list of things that I have put off for a long time that need to be done around the house, so whenever I feel myself getting fed up, I can always find something to do. Little things like putting together photo albums or scrapbooks from particular events.  

Poppy Seager, Marketing Manager

What is your Working from Home set up?

No alarm needed in my house, I am up at 8am with two happy boys. Breakfast and T.V check, so I switch on in the hope of seeing what my day looks like.  Caffeine and brekkie sorted for me, now the boys are hungry again!!! I swear they say this every half an hour. The snack cupboard is now empty. My kitchen where I sit is a scene from Art Attack and I’ll be hoovering up glitter for days... but they decorated two boiled eggs each this morning in ONLY 15minutes, they were happy.

How do you feel about the current situation/what do you do that helps you to feel positive?

Sky movies and I’m grateful for and Joe Wicks PE (needed after all the snacks!) I am lucky to have a big garden and we live next to Kingsweston house so we try and get outside where possible, laptop in the garden when we get a bit of sun this week, fingers crossed. 

What are the challenges?

My day is a little longer because my activities are often interrupted. My phone signal always drops mid call, so I have to step into the garden (in my PJs). Trip to A&E yesterday for my youngest, first of many injuries I’m sure. I think I’m going grey, when will I see my hairdresser again?! (If you don’t hear from me, send help.)

What did you miss doing today?

I miss my routine and colleagues!

Chloe Weston, Client Services Administrator

We hope that the experiences of our staff help you feel as though you're not alone with the challenges we're all facing during the Corona Virus outbreak! As you can see, our staff are fully equipped to answer any queries you may have so please don't hesitate to email info@whitechurch.co.uk if you have a discretionary query or clientservices@whitechurch.co.uk to reach our financial consultant team.