* Tips received – and very well accepted – by an International colleague teaching in Scandinavia.

7 things to think about to improve your work from home situation

By now most of us are back to work – but probably not “at work” – after the holidays. Here are seven points to check to make the most of your work from home situation.

Under the current circumstances, more and more people are forced to try working from home – and will soon discover that it may not be as comfortable as it sounds. In addition to the home’s ergonomic shortcomings, there are also other difficulties, such as finding focus and a boundary between work and leisure. But everything works and here are seven tips on how to work efficiently even at home.

1. Select a dedicated workspace

The first priority is to allocate a special area so that the workplace is kept separate from the rest of the home. Partly to avoid cleaning up after each work shift, partly to get “a job to go to” – a mental space that makes it easier to separate the job from free time. It is best to have a separate room that you can close and only use to work in. If you have no room left over, you can choose another delimited area, for example the area under the stairs.

2. Make sure you sit comfortably 

The kitchen chair is not an option in the long run, you need the comfort and functionality of a real office chair Since you are likely to sit and work for several hours every day, and incorrect sitting causes many problems, it is important to have a chair that follows your body’s movements and helps you to sit right.

3. Get a good desk

One of the benefits of having a special work table is that you can leave things behind after the end of the work day. And there are desks in many different formats and designs to choose from. A height-adjustable desk costs a little more, but pays off quickly. Being able to change position during long working days is nice for the body, and you also become both more productive and creative when standing!

4. Upgrade the technology

To be able to work efficiently, the home office’s technical capacity should preferably be on a par with your regular workplace. Think about what features your computer and phone should have and choose professional versions of the software packages. Also make sure to upgrade your internet connection if necessary.

5. Review the lighting

Good lighting makes a big difference to the work effort. Natural light is always best, so try to place your desk as close to a window as possible. Your workplace should also have adequate ceiling lighting so that you do not have to rely on daylight. A table lamp makes it easy to work even during the evening shift. In order not to strain the eyes unnecessarily, the light should not shine directly on the computer screen.

6. Structure your day

Try to have structure in the working day even when you work from home. Get up at the same time as usual. Feel free to take a short walk before work, then you get fresh air while you mentally adjust to “going to work”. Keep to your routines, have lunch as usual and end the day at the usual time. Finish by writing a checklist of what to do the next day. Then you have all the prerequisites to succeed.

7. Spend time with colleagues

Perhaps the biggest difference initially is that you are not surrounded by happy colleagues. It may feel boring, but working from home does not have to mean an end to your social contacts. You and your colleagues can, for example, try to take coffee breaks together via Facetime or Skype. But since everyone can have their unique needs – try not to “disturb” each other during the lunch break.

A clear and sharp overview on Covid-19 health and socio-economic impacts with some significant proposals.

“Covid-19 is the largest health and economic crisis of our generation. We are all bombarded by a lot of news, which are evolving quickly, are often highly technical, and have policy consequences that dramatically affect our lives”.

“Andrea Galeotti and I [Paolo Surico] felt the need to learn some tools to process this information and to understand and rationalise current health and economic policies. We [They] created a narrative to highlight different trade-offs which are part of: a) every health policy that attempts to flatten the contagion curve of Covid-19, and b) every economic policy that attempts to flatten the ‘recession curve’ caused by Covid-19″.

You find their video presentations here!

Dear all,
I have to share this report with you, and I will do within other networks too.
It is deadly urgent we all become aware about the actions we should all perform.

I forward a link to a scientific but descriptive report:

https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-people-will-die-f4d3d9cd99ca

It is a long reading but if you are patient enough you can get a full sketch what we (Europe) are facing.

Do not underestimate the infection.
And I would also ask to share it within your own networks and media, please, since the relevance to be thoroughly informed is at the moment a key element in the battle.

Yours,
lablog

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POLIMI SEMESTER START

POSTPONED

TO 02 MARCH

lablog @ Biennale Sessions
“Reporting from the Italian Front”

sabato 5 novembre
sala d’armi B, Arsenale

LAB. INT. 2016
PoSt-Azioni Subequane

sabato 23 luglio 2016
Sala dell’Artiglieria h 10:30
Arsenale di Venezia
Biennale Sessions 

mercoledì 27 luglio 2016
Spazio Patio h 15:00

Giovedì 9 Giugno
Politecnico di Milano
edificio 11 – via Ampére 2
aula G.2
ore 18:00

Ne discutono
Mauro Baracco
Emilia Corradi
Gennaro Postiglione
Alessandro Rocca

Leggi l’introduzione

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Architecture education and the Oslo School

The Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO) will host a series of seminars on architecture education and the Oslo School. This first session will highlight Professor Per Olaf Fjeld and the B3 studio’s approach to teaching presented also the an exhibition: The New Collective – Studio B3 2005-2015

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Cannatà/Fernandes
giovedì 28 aprile 2016
h 17:00
FUM – Salone Mantegnesco
Mantova

a cura di Barbara Bogoni
introduzione di Gennaro Postiglione

download di tutto il programma

Dalla scorsa settimana, grazie ad amici e compagni di didattica e ricerca, anche l’amico e collega Nicola Flora (Scuola di Architettura di Napoli-Federico II) ha attivato un blog – labindiarc – dove caricare (con un po’ di calma) le tante cose fatte, oltre a quelle che d’ora innanzi faranno: materiali e immagini relative a ricerche, tesi di laurea, mostre, workshop, ecc… (senza dimenticare il lavoro su mobilarch).

Welcome on-Air!

Call: #ideasforcittastudi
Browse the hashtag on Instagram

#ideasforcittastudi #atmospheres2016#243

A photo posted by Lablog Interiors (@labloginteriors) on Mar 24, 2016 at 6:56am PDT

Call: #mappingcittastudi
Browse the hashtag on Instagram

#mappingcittastudi #politecnicodimilano #polimi #architecture #perspective #paths #street #urbanspace #urbanmaterials #urbanelements #sequence #geometries #boulevard

A photo posted by @lorenzozucchinali on Mar 22, 2016 at 11:50pm PDT

BETA VERSION: www.auic-diplomawork.polimi-cooperation.org