With thousands of people across the UAE facing the prospect of working from home due to the global coronavirus pandemic, many of us will be transforming our living rooms into makeshift offices.
Luckily, technology makes it easy to stay connected with your colleagues when working remotely, but the thought can still be a little daunting, especially if you have not done so before.
Here, we share some tips for remaining productive when working from home …
Create space
It is important to create a place where you can work distraction-free, says Suzanne Gandy, a UAE-based expert in people, culture and leadership. “Having a dedicated space from which to work will make your family members aware that when you are sitting there you should really not be disturbed, so you can concentrate,” she says. Wearing visible headphones or closing a door is a great way to indicate to people in your household when you should not be disturbed.
Have a routine
Of course, right now we all need to take things one day at a time, but it is important to try to build a routine. "Getting up and getting ready will put you into the right mindset to be productive," Gandy says, "but managing work and life can be very challenging, so organisation is key." She suggests using an online diary to set aside periods of time to be productive, and using reminders so you don't get sidetracked with other matters at home.
Communicate
When you are away from your colleagues, it is important for both your peace of mind and workflow to remain in regular contact. “Communication builds and keeps the trust, so constant communication with your line manager and your teams demonstrate your commitment to working productively,” Gandy says. “Trust is key when being given the opportunity to work remotely, so make sure you nurture that trust in the morning with a list of what you are planning to do, and in the evening with what you have done.” Video-calling using apps such as Zoom or group chats on Slack are a great way to keep in touch.
Set mini goals
It’s important to have a clear daily plan to keep yourself focused, Gandy says. “Set yourself daily goals of what you must do, should do and could do that day,” she suggests. “Make sure you complete the ‘must do’ goal before the end of the day, even if it means waiting until the kids are in bed. Tick them off at the end of the day and update your line manager.”
Care for yourself
It is important when you are working from home to make sure you take time to rejuvenate and move around, as you would in the office. “Most of the work you will be doing at home will be sitting down and at a screen,” Gandy says. “And because you will not be going to meetings or walking around the office, make sure you remind yourself to look after your physical wellbeing by getting up and moving.” This includes switching off your social media, she advises, as it can be a major screen time distraction, limiting your productivity.
Ferrari
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Results:
Men's 100m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 15 sec; 2. Rheed McCracken (AUS) 15.40; 3. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 15.75. Men's 400m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 50.56; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 50.94; 3. Henry Manni (FIN) 52.24.
Juliet, Naked
Dir: Jesse Peretz
Starring: Chris O'Dowd, Rose Byrne, Ethan Hawke
Two stars
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
RESULTS - ELITE MEN
1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:03
2. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:09
3. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:25
4. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:34
5. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:40
6. Joao Silva (POR) 57:45
7. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:56
8. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:57
9. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:58
10. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59
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Warby Parker @warbyparker
Zara @zara
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
