I have worked from home for some time now, but I can tell you that my biggest challenge when I started working from home was adjusting to a regular schedule. In fact, there is no regular schedule because I work with people in many time zones all around the globe. To adjust, I started keeping track of every task or activity on my calendar and this helped to keep me organized and tracking my hours logistically. Sometimes I have to let other household chores go undone for awhile, and it can be hard carving out time for exercise. However, I have found that my calendar schedule is helpful in these areas too. So for those of you whom felt your schedule got out of control...why not try using your calendar or other available scheduling features available to you? MS TEAMs and MS To-Do lists are great tools too!
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Suzanne Russell CISSP, CRISC, GCIH, ITIL
Security Architect | IBM Alliance | Group Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships
Capgemini North America | Austin Texas
Mob.: + 1-512-913-9292
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Original Message:
Sent: Tue April 21, 2020 11:29 AM
From: Jennifer Tullman-Botzer
Subject: What are your work from home challenges and how are you overcoming them?
We're all encountering new challenges as we adjust to working from home, conscientiously observe social distancing regulations, and embrace other practices that were completely foreign as recently as a couple months ago. This of course includes your IBM Security Community Managers, and I'll be the first to admit it's not always been a smooth transition.
I am very fortunate that my role helping facilitate this Community does not require a specific physical location, but finding space to work in a small apartment also occupied by a (furloughed) husband, a dog and a cat did take both flexibility and creativity – as well as an upgrade of our internet speed and some reconfigurations to make sure our home network is secure (see Jose Bravo's extremely helpful webinar recording on this last topic).
In this thread we encourage all our Community members to share the challenges you've faced these last few weeks (security related or not!) and, ideally, how you've worked to overcome them. One thing I can tell you is that giving up and just moving the dog's bed into my little office was the best choice I've made. Instead of scratching at the door all day long, now he (mostly) lies quietly under my desk as I work.
Arthur, reporting for work bright and early
We also welcome you to give feedback on the IBM Security content related to the current landscape and the growing set of threats and challenges (see our ongoing thread here) and to offer ideas and recommendations for additional content you'd like to see.
We may be physically isolated from one another, but community is more important than ever and we look forward to reading any personal stories and lessons you're willing to share with your fellow members. After all, despite everything that's changed in recent months, collaboration is still the key to our success.
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Jennifer Tullman-Botzer
Community Manager
IBM Security
Tel Aviv
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