Thoughts after more than a year working remotely by Lu Villanueva

About a year ago I started working at inlea as HR Lead Americas. In the midst of a pandemic, I had to virtually join a team that works in more than 50 countries and whose main offices are in Barcelona (5 hours difference from Lima, where I live).

Since the pandemic began, numerous experts have come out talking about it and providing “tips” to make it more bearable. However, in this article I would like to share with you my reflections after more than a year working remotely, not as an expert in human resources, but as a person.

It definitely sounds tempting, a dream come true for many, and in some part it can be, but working remotely or from home has taught us all that it has its positives and negatives.

Habits and routines

One of the greatest benefits of working from home is the time I have gained; and as they say, time is money. Lima is the third city with the most vehicular traffic in the world, which is why I used to spend a large number of hours per month just going from home to the workplace.

I decided not to spend these hours getting more sleep, but dedicate this time to improve my quality of life, getting up a little earlier and doing sports, connecting my favorite podcast APP or going for a walk or bike ride; everything counts and gives me that extra energy that I need.

After investing this time in me, Santi, my five-year-old son, reminds me that it is time to schedule his day. I have noticed that this gives him security and helps him in his autonomy and independence.

Then, I get my workspace ready: laptop, warm light, ergonomic chair, and everything calculated to make my work day as comfortable and productive as possible. Definitely, after so much time carrying out these habits and routines, I can tell you that this has helped me not to lose the motivation that comes with a simple change of scenery or the concentration that you get in a pleasant workplace.

Technological resources

I always start my day with a meeting with my team. Thanks to the different technological platforms, working with my colleagues in a virtual way is an easy and effective process.

Fortunately, inlea is a global company with years of experience in recruiting and training professionals virtually. Something that, without a doubt, has helped us to overcome the obstacles that the Covid-19 pandemic has presented at work and to be able to maintain fluid communication with our colleagues and collaborators.

On the other hand, the use of these platforms forces us to share our homes with our co-workers, clients and suppliers, of different nationalities and cultures. This fact makes it inevitable that our most personal life sometimes crosses the screen, something that makes me happy since as a human resources figure, I appreciate being able to naturally show part of myself to the team.

Proximity in the distance

My afternoons flow more calmly, there are no more classes at my son’s school and everything important and urgent has been resolved in my morning. I take this opportunity to take time and talk with members of my team. I ask about each one, how they feel, how they are, their priorities and main projects. Thanks to our international team, I have the luxury of knowing more about what is happening in different parts of the world such as Dubai, Australia, USA, Brazil, Costa Rica or perhaps someone close to me, here in Peru. Working globally allows me to know a lot about different contexts, or how we experience similar situations.

I connect with each one, I look them in the eye on the screens and I try to be empathetic with their experiences, and I think about how to contribute and support them. At times we can think that we are together physically because of the interaction that technology allows us.

Conciliation

I finished my work day, and… I am already at home. Santi comes back from the park and we eat together, we have seen each other several times in the day, but finally we can talk and look into each other’s eyes.

Working from home has allowed me to invest my time in what I decide and therefore feel that the reconciliation between my personal life and work is more rewarding.

At the end of the day I can feel happy and grateful since I enjoy my work and my work in inlea, I invite people from all over the world to enter my home, I share with them, I learn from everyone and I feel I am positively impacting my colleagues and team.