Work from home and remote resources for postdocs

Whether because of personal or health needs, or as the result of shifting expectations and opportunities in workplace cultures, you may find yourself working remotely or in hybrid environments. The University has developed many resources to support postdocs in these situations.

Resources and tips for working from home
Virtual campus services for postdocs

Resources and tips for working from home

The below resources have been compiled to help you as you work remotely or transition to doing so.

Resources and tips for working from home
*Name of resource or tip*	*Brief description*
Routines and planning	During the time you are working from home, many of your normal routines may be impacted, including routines around meals and parenting. Try some tips for planning meals and child care while working remotely: Try out the marker board meal-planning guide to streamline the meal planning process. Consider some tips for parents working from home.
Set up an ergonomic workspace	Even if you're working at your kitchen table, there are strategies you can implement to create a more ergonomic set up. Review the ergonomics information provided by Safety Office, including an Office Ergonomics workshop on LEARN.
Stay connected	There are lots of free online tools available to help you stay connected while working remotely, try out a new tool for your next meeting: Skype Zoom
Stay active	Whether you're at your desk or kitchen table, sneak in some (free!) yoga: Try a free online desk yoga session Even if you don't have fitness equipment at home, there are options to stay active: Try a 20 minute full body workout - no equipment required! Try some desk stretches that you can do quickly and easily wherever you're working.
Take time to focus on your mental health	You may be avoiding a stressful commute when working from home, but remote work can come with challenges of its own. There are many free, online resources to help: Check out some tips for maintaining your mental health while you adapt to working from home. Try using a free meditation app like Headspace or Insight Timer Virtual and remote resources from the University of Waterloo are also highlighted below.
Take breaks	Try out these options to take a break from the comfort of your own home while working remotely: Visit a virtual museum or attend a virtual concert. While you may not be able to head out to a museum or concert, there are many museums that provide virtual visits and several concert or opera performances available for you to view or listen to online. Take a virtual hike through a National Park on Google Earth.
Think about how to continue your career development	The COVID-19 pandemic likely disrupted your usual routine, including your career development networking, job search and conference plans. However, there are still ways that you can engage in career development during this time: Check out the suggestions in the LinkedIn article During a Pandemic: How to Continue Your Career Development and Job Search Consider ways that you can still include accepted, but cancelled, conference presentations on your CV

Virtual campus services for postdocs

The below resources are available to postdocs who find it preferable or necessary to access campus services virtually, rather than in person.

Virtual campus services for postdocs
*Name of unit or service*	*Brief description*
Athletics	Athletics and Recreation is pleased to offer a selection of online programming for those looking to get involved while working remotely.
Centre for Career Action (CCA)	Career advising appointments are available via phone and Skype. Book appointments through WaterlooWorks. CareerHub, an online resource covering everything from skills identification to interview skills, also remains available to guide you through the career development process.
Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE)	If you are an instructor, please visit Waterloo's Keep Learning website, which is dedicated to helping instructors teach remotely. Teaching tips are also available online to support you with remote teaching.
Information Systems & Technology (IST)	In addition to IST in-person services desks, postdocs can get help via phone, email, or live chat during their regular business hours. Services include: PC hardware and software troubleshooting Software installation Malware removal WatIAM troubleshooting Network troubleshooting Email configuration and setup
Library	The Library has a number of virtual services: Virtual support using Ask us Digital collections via Omni, Research databases, UWSpace, and Waterloo Digital Library Online consultations with a subject librarian Copyright consultations Research support through the research guides
Legal and Immigration Services	Legal and Immigration Services staff are available by email. Postdocs with questions about visas or immigration should reach out to Fran Hannigan, Senior Immigration Specialist. Fran handles support for faculty, staff and visiting scholars. She acts as the subject–matter expert on immigration and temporary foreign workers as they relate to the University community. She also oversees the University's responsibilities under immigration rules.
Online professional development	The Mitacs EDGE program offers several online professional development workshops that are available 24-7. They also offer virtual training courses on a variety of subjects. Each course consists of a self-paced asynchronous online modules, followed by a synchronous live virtual session facilitated at multiple points throughout a given term. Finishing both components awards participants with a certificate of completion. Information Systems & Technology provides free access to LinkedIn Learning for all postdocs. Learn more and activate your account today to gain access to over 13,000 courses.
Software access	IST provides information on software for faculty and staff, and can answer questions regarding the availability of specific software or resources while working remotely.
Writing and Communication Centre (WCC)	WCC appointments are now offered online. Book through WCC Online. Join in on a virtual writing cafe hosted by the WCC.
Velocity	Postdocs can now book free and unlimited 1-on-1 virtual coaching sessions with Velocity Coaches!