Our PhD student in Mycology Saleh Rahimlouye Barabi, Research Fellow in Macroecology Riin Tamme, Junior Research Fellow in History Viktors Dāboliņš, and PhD student and Junior Research Fellow of Ancient DNA Tina Saupe talk about their life and work in home office these days.
My working and playing environment during the quarantine time staying at home. @unitartu
— Saleh Rahimlou (@saleh_rahimlou) March 19, 2020
Happy Nowruz 2020 (Iran New Year).
Music: national anthem of Iran. God bless you Iran.https://t.co/Ejxm0SefAj
Thanks @unitartu for encouraging remote working if possible! #StayTheFHome #FlattenTheCurve pic.twitter.com/WeaBbvdfL5
— Riin Tamme (@riintamme) March 16, 2020
Today completed my article. pic.twitter.com/rduioL1L2c
— Viktors Dabolins (@TheVektors) March 17, 2020
Nothing colourful anymore around me! But finishing up the first paper #phdlife pic.twitter.com/M1IzoM27a4
— Tina Saupe (@Tina13guapa) March 17, 2020
How much did you normally work from home before the corona crisis?
Usually I was not working in home before the virus outbreak. I used to work in my office from 9-17 and almost 1 hour reading articles or books before sleep. But now I start from 9 and work until I go to bed around 12 with several intervals.
— Saleh Rahimlou (@saleh_rahimlou) March 26, 2020
Quite often, I’m lucky that it’s possible in my job. I’m used to working from home at least couple of days every month. Also, I sometimes like to leave my office early and continue working from home in the afternoon, for some change of scenery 🙂
— Riin Tamme (@riintamme) March 26, 2020
Well, normally working from home was part of my daily regime. Active studies ar the UT had finished some time ago, I got my new flat and I was happy that i could concentrate on writing my phd without much noise. Sometimes I would go to Tartu or Riga only to distance myself
— Viktors Dabolins (@TheVektors) March 26, 2020
…from daily routine and feeling stuck within four walls. Now that every public place is closed and I prefer not to commute with public transport, it is different
— Viktors Dabolins (@TheVektors) March 26, 2020
Before the crisis, I tried to avoid working from home a lot because I get easily distracted by something messy in my flat. But, I worked from home only a few days so far and those days were not the most productive once.
— Tina Saupe (@Tina13guapa) March 26, 2020
What are your main challenges of working from home?
I think there is no special challenge for me at least. My job is mostly doing computer analyses and now I have remotely connected to my desktop computer in office and university HPC clusters using my laptop computer and can do whatever I want. You just need to be more organised.
— Saleh Rahimlou (@saleh_rahimlou) March 26, 2020
There are more distractions for sure 😄 I try to keep a schedule – designate time for work and breaks.
— Riin Tamme (@riintamme) March 26, 2020
Lack ir discipline 🙂 Sleeping is good, but more distracting are the overwhelming news reports from the "war zone"
— Viktors Dabolins (@TheVektors) March 26, 2020
Lack of discipline. (it's my autocorrect)
— Viktors Dabolins (@TheVektors) March 26, 2020
Do you have any rituals or rules about working from home?
Yes, I try to wake up and eat three times a day on time. I avoid eating or listening music when I'm working. Sometimes I drink a coffee in between. My home is quiet, convinient and working condition is even better than the office.
— Saleh Rahimlou (@saleh_rahimlou) March 26, 2020
I try to move as much as possible (my watch reminds me to do that 😄) – take dance breaks, do home exercise or go for a walk outside (keeping safe distance!).
— Riin Tamme (@riintamme) March 26, 2020
I need to think about it… I think I am not a person of rituals. Usually, I set my goals for the day on a previous day. I need to have the feeling of fulfillment in the end of a day. Sometimes it comes from seeing friends and reading a book rather than writing a paragraph
— Viktors Dabolins (@TheVektors) March 26, 2020
I work from 9am – 5pm every day with a lunch break around 1pm. Currently, I'm finalizing my first paper for submission. In the morning, I check the new comments in the gdoc, make a list, and try to do everything on the same day. Today I just copy & paste👩💻
— Tina Saupe (@Tina13guapa) March 26, 2020
How much do you exercise or go out?
Unfortunately, I don't exercise too much. I go 2-3 times a week running around my home. I only go for shopping every 2 days.
— Saleh Rahimlou (@saleh_rahimlou) March 26, 2020
I am planning to start my jogging and hikinh season anyday soon. But usually I stretch my legs going for a long walks and riding a bike
— Viktors Dabolins (@TheVektors) March 26, 2020
I have a walk after lunch or after 5pm. AND I have installed a fitness app to do exercises at home! I would not do anything without this app 😂
— Tina Saupe (@Tina13guapa) March 26, 2020
How much do you keep in touch with your family and friends?
I don't visit anyone nowadays. I have phone calls to my family and friends almost everyday.
— Saleh Rahimlou (@saleh_rahimlou) March 26, 2020
I chat with my family and friends every day in Messenger or over the phone. We also use Zoom for virtual work coffee breaks to keep in touch with friends from work 😊
— Riin Tamme (@riintamme) March 26, 2020
It is a totally new exerience for me, since I keep in touch with the closest ones daily. I have not made so much phone calls in years. Also, I met some of my friends in Rīga last weekend. Who knows, when the things are getting better. We have to overwinter this spring somehow
— Viktors Dabolins (@TheVektors) March 26, 2020
I call my mother in Germany every day to make sure she is safe and does not have any symptoms! She still needs to work. I text/call friends all over the world and play videogames online with friends in Spain, Germany, and the UK!
— Tina Saupe (@Tina13guapa) March 26, 2020
