Remote working in the bush

COVID-19 has welcomed a culture of ‘work anywhere, anytime’ with remote working and virtual office spaces becoming the norm.

Working anywhere, anytime provides you with the flexibility to sneak in a change of scenery – as long as you’re able to get your work done. At iKhaya LamaDube, we have extended our WiFi to accommodate working professionals who need to break out the confines of their own homes and opt for a change of scenery while remote working.

Remote working: The benefits of a change of scenery

Since the South African lockdown was announced, you’ve more than likely been working from home and opted to continue to work from home if you have been presented with the option.

While working from home seemed like an attractive proposition in the beginning of lockdown, cabin fever, knowing intimate details of your significant other’s co-workers and learning the anthem to your child’s favourite cartoon may have proven to be side-effects of your new working conditions.

Here’s why a change of scenery is highly recommended:

1. You’ll start to distinguish between your days again.
   Although you may be tempted to fall into holiday mode where your days melt into one another, knowing you arrived on a certain date and will be leaving on another will re-establish your sense of time and ground your perception of what you can and can’t achieve within a specific timeframe.
2. New experiences will establish a sense of excitement and thrill for adventure back into your life.
   Maintaining the same mundane routine during lockdown possibly squashed your zest for life. Having something to look forward to will give you a new sense of purpose, while creating some variance in your daily routine will increase your sense of well-being.
3. Shift your mental state.
   If you’ve been in a slump, a change of scenery may be just what you need!
4. Stop old habits and create new, good habits.
   Under lockdown, you may have developed some unfavourable habits. Being in a new environment may be the best way to control your environment and eliminate factors that enable your new bad habits.
5. Eliminating stress you experience in your normal day-to-day life.
   Some space from your lockdown partner or even homeschooled kids might be good for your relationships and mental health.
6. Re-establish a healthy work-life balance.
   Working from home can often blur the days into nights without establishing any boundaries. Changing your environment will allow you to re-establish those boundaries.
7. Regain focus.
   You may be on a work ferris wheel – constantly churning out the next task on your to-do list. By changing your scenery you can hit the restart button on your priorities and to-do list.

We’ve established that a change of scenery while you work remotely could be just what you need to realign your mental health and well-being while re-establishing healthy work habits but how can you ensure that you’re productive while remote working in the bush?

How to productively work remotely in the bush

You now know your internet connection won’t be an issue or inhibitor when it comes to your productivity. Here are a few tips to accomplish your goals while working at iKhaya LamaDube:

1. Eat properly.
   Because iKhaya LamaDube is a self-catering lodge, you’ll have no other choice than to think about what you are going to eat. This is the perfect time for meal planning and making healthy meal choices which fuel your brain and creative processes.
2. Wake up early.
   It might be tempting to sleep in after a relaxing turn-down, but you’ll feel rejuvenated and ready to face the day after sipping your morning cup of coffee while watching the sunrise. Besides, the earlier you start your day, the earlier you can wrap-up while enjoying some much-deserved downtime.
3. Maintain regular working hours.
   Working long hours to get things done might be tempting without the usual home-life disruptions. Remember that even though you’re at the bush to work in a change of scenery, it’s still important to appreciate some time out and enjoy your time in nature.
4. Work with intent.
   Because your getaway will be a set period, write a to-do-list of everything you need to get done while you’re away. These might be tasks you just haven’t been able to get around to while working from home and now you can make a point of completing them before your departure.
5. Schedule breaks.
   During your breaks, you can experience all the wonders of the Dinokeng Game Reserve and some of the awesome activities you can take part in
6. Set up a designated working area in your unit.
   Whether you decide to work on the deck of your Log Cabin or at the counter of our Luxury Villa, the units at iKhaya LamaDube are spacious enough for you to decide on an area which will be your primary working area.
7. Fully equip yourself with everything you need.
   Take inventory of all you typically need when you work and make a list of all your working essentials to ensure you don’t forget anything.

Take advantage of Mid-week specials

The idea of an extended game lodge getaway may be exactly what you need. Perhaps this luxury doesn’t fit in with your post-lockdown budget. At iKhaya LamaDube we often have mid-week specials running which will provide you with the opportunity to experience a much-needed change of scenery. Follow our social media pages to stay in the loop or enquire about our current specials.