SUSHRUTA

Journal of Health Policy & Opinions

Working from Home- A Guide for the Busy Clinician

Dijay Dave BA (Oxon)

Imperial College London, UK

Correspondence to dijay.dave18@imperial.ac.uk

Keywords

WFH; Medical Students; Medical Education; Coronavirus; Mental Health;

Cite as: Dave D. Working from home- A guide for the busy clinician. Sushruta 2020 (Mar)

vol13(1): 35-36 epub 24.03.2020

Introduction

and concentration. An example would be to

In the week since SARS-CoV-2 has been declared a

calculate how many questions from a question

global pandemic, healthcare workers have found

bank need to be completed over the coming week

themselves in the midst of an unprecedented

and then dividing it into manageable 25-minute

global health emergency, amongst them are

sessions. We are lucky to live in the digital age and

thousands of medical students. As the majority of

so working together remains an option: Facetime

hospitals suspend clinical placements, many

and Skype to catch up with friends easy as well as

medical schools are turning to distance learning

more professional services such as Zoom and

with students “Working From Home” (WFH). For

Microsoft Teams to work with colleagues can

medical students to remain productive whilst both

provide a level of accountability as well as help

physically and mentally well is of paramount

with mood.

importance so here are 3 key tips to remember

when working from home:

Look after yourself

1. Set realistic goals

Personal goals will vary greatly during this period

2. Look after yourself

of uncertainty and from individual to individual.

3. Look after others

Working from home can blur the line between

your personal and professional life so it is

Set realistic goals

important to set boundaries early on; this can be

As I write this article, sixth-year medical

done both in terms of time and workspace. Try and

undergraduates at my institution, Imperial College

keep your bedroom as a place to relax and unwind

London, have taken their final year assessments

as well as occasionally disconnecting from social

online in a world-first¹ and set a precedent for

media and messaging services. Acknowledge that

online examinations at other medical schools.

your mood will fluctuate during this extended

Keeping on top of your academic workload may

period of uncertainty and it is it is completely

thus appear important but so will ensuring proper

normal to feel anxious and worried about what lies

self-care. Structuring regular breaks into your

ahead. Looking after yourself and others is key to

work schedule using techniques such as

developing emotional resilience. Small things such

Pomodoro² (working for 25 minutes, followed by

as simply getting ready and getting dressed in the

5-minute break) and Getting Things Done

morning are small victories that are not to be

(breaking big projects into smaller actional items)

overlooked.

can boost productivity by maintaining motivation

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vol13(1):

SUSHRUTA

Journal of Health Policy & Opinions

There are a number of electronic resources

Imperial College London report⁸. Ensuring you

currently available that have been made free to

remain well in what will may become more of a

access to help healthcare workers deal with

marathon than a race is essential. As medical

current levels of stress and anxiety. App stores are

students, our responsibilities are two-fold; both as

full of mindfulness apps, one example is

diligent citizens and as possible members of the

Headspace that is currently offering 3 months of

hospital workforce.

premium access providing guided meditation

sessions⁴. In the current lockdown, individuals and

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Conclusion

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There is currently no set deadline for self-isolation

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicat

with timescale of between 3 weeks to 3 months⁶

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currently being discussed by the government. In a

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