To help, we have partnered with Ben, the charity dedicated to supporting the people of the automotive industry, providing support for life for them and their family dependents. Ben works with people to improve their lives by enhancing their health and wellbeing through its free and confidential online self-help, helpline, and support services. This post was developed by Ben and has been included on the CarGurus website with permission.
Since 23rd March 2020, everyone has been staying at home to help stop the spread of coronavirus. This includes people of all ages – even if you do not have any symptoms or other health conditions.
You can only leave your home:
- To shop for basic essentials – only when you really need to
- To do one form of exercise a day – such as a run, walk or cycle, alone or with other people you live with
- For a medical need – to visit a pharmacy or deliver essential supplies to a vulnerable person
- To travel to and from work – but only where this is absolutely necessary
Businesses across the country have had to close their doors or move people to home working where this is possible.
Working from home may be new to many of us, and comes with its own set of pros and cons. Our homes have suddenly become our offices, and we have had to make some adjustments to get used to this new way of working.
There could be benefits such as:
- extra time thanks to no commuting
- a flexible schedule
- no office distractions – although you may now be faced with different ones at home!
- better work-life balance (if you’re disciplined)
- you might even save money from not grabbing food on the go
- working from the comfort of your home
There are, however, challenges that come with working remotely. Some things can be harder to adapt to initially, such as:
- getting into the mood for work – our previous commute to work helped us prepare for our working day
- maintaining focus when there are so many distractions, particularly if you have young children at home
- learning to take regular breaks, a proper lunch and to shut down at the end of the day and not keep working, just because you can is also a challenge
- you may feel isolated if you’re single or live alone, because it can be harder to connect with your colleagues
You may find yourself feeling overwhelmed. Don’t worry, lots of us are feeling the same. Try Ben’s tips but if you need some extra support, Ben’s there for you – chat with them online or call their free helpline on 08081 311333. Here are some additional resources: