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MaltaToday 3 May 2020

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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 MAY 2020 10 COMMERCIAL What it all boils down to Sharon Vassallo Sharon Vassallo is a Software Developer working with the Funding Department at Programme Management Department and she is responsible for developing enhancements and new requirements related to the funding project. YEAR 2019 professionally started for me with a different modus operandi. I started my teleworking experience with MITA whereby I was given the facility to work 10 hours from the office and an- other 10 hours from home to care for my growing family. This was my first experience working remotely; which, thankfully is an oppor- tunity to keep on working and keep my career going, but it also is quite a chal- lenge. It requires disciplined organisa- tional skills to keep up with the demands at work; especially when simultaneously taking care of a new-born. Picture this: nappy changes, tantrum cries, feeds and overwhelming stress of doing it for the first time; while answer- ing calls with the office and clients, writ- ing logical code and making sure that all this is delivered in a timely manner and as effectively as possible. Not a walk in the park, I can assure you. Now that the COVID-19 virus sudden- ly hit the world, many companies and employers have changed to this new mo- dus operandi. People need to relearn how to function in a completely different environment. Having experienced all this juggling of remote work and family responsibilities for the past couple of months, I would like to share some tips of how one can balance living in the current circum- stances. Create Your Own Home Office Having my own space is very impor- tant. Partly because I can organise it in a similar way to what I have in the office. However, it is also a space in my home which signifies work and professional- ism. This, to me is paramount, as it helps me segregate home environment and all the responsibilities that come with it versus the workspace. This means that when I am in this space, family members know that I'm in the 'do not disturb' zone. It is also a way to show the young one, that when mum- my sits by this desk, there will be no cud- dling or play time. As mentioned earlier, having the appropriate set-up is key. Being a software developer means a lot of screen time, therefore being comfort- able is conducive to productivity. Having an employer who truly supports work- life balance is always a plus. For example, MITA has allowed its employees to set- up their home environment with equip- ment from the office; say a large monitor or an ergonomic chair.

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