Page 134 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2021

TIPSfor WORKING
from
HOME story by Lynn Lofton
Summer Hewes of Gulfport is a sales producer for Allstate Insurance and writes coverage throughout the United States. She has worked for Allstate Insurance for 21 years and from home since 2018.
“It can definitely be a challenge to have a healthy work-life balance, but the good far outweighs the bad,” she says. “I am able to spend more time with my son, Smith. During this entire pandemic experience, his class has had
to do a virtual learning classroom on multiple occasions.
By working from home, I can immediately be accessible for him.”
Hewes advises that anyone who is considering working from home remember that it’s still work. “People often think that working from home is less demanding. This is simply not true,” she adds. “I recommend setting up a dedicated work space free from outside distractions.”
Angela Stevenson of D’Iberville has been a mortgage underwriter for more than 20 years and began working from home almost 10 years ago.
Asked what tips she gives to others who want to work from home, she said, “You need to be able to step away from it. It is difficult at times when the work is right there and there’s so much to do.”
Stevenson separates home from work even though both are in the same place. “It is challenging, and I still struggle with it at times,” she said. “You really just have to set your mind to it. Set a goal that you will step away at a certain time and do it.”
There are many websites with tips for successfully working from home. Some tips frequently listed include set up a dedicated work space, as Hewes suggested, and step away from work, as Stevenson suggested.
Many people have worked from home during the pandemic with technology making it possible and productive. As work places are opening up, some employees – those who have the option – will choose to continue residential working. There seem to be pros and cons to this arrangement. Two local women who’ve been working from home for years share their experience.
134 | September 2021
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