MCEC Tips for Working Remote #2

In this blogseries the MCEC Office will post about eveything that has to do with working from home.

Today: Useful tips for working from home.

Mission: Write a blog with useful tips for working from home.
Result: 10 articles that cover this topic superbly

Since my living room became an MCEC Office, I began sending out newsletters to my friends. Every morning of the week, before work (but after a fresh cup of coffee), I compile a collection of articles grouped into four categories: #WorkAwayFromWork #Inside #Outside #Computer. The newsletter goes by the (very original) name #WorkAndChill.

To be honest, I haven’t had a single reply since the start of my little newsletter endeavor (#WorkAndChill nr. 1 was released on Monday morning March 16).

Until this morning.

I received the following reply:

From: Idap_eters
Subject: Re: #WorkAndChill 13

Hi daanvanarcken,

Please join our Zoom session. We’re waiting for you..

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/100096297?pwd=a1pnMmFyMzdMTFVxT2RVOVNGMkpndz09

Strange way to start an e-mail, right? And the two dots after ‘We’re waiting for you..‘: Compelling to say the least! I only send this newsletter to a handful of people, so I add their email addresses manually. Turns out I had accidentally written idap_eters in the addressline, instead of ida_peters. These sorts of things tend to happen every now and then. You receive a ‘could not deliver’-reply, open a new message, copy/paste the email from the sent folder and put in the right address. But this message seemed to be delivered to an actual person and he or she had replied to me, with a link to a supposed ”Zoom session”.

So, normally when I’m at work, behind my corporate laptop, I would never ever in a million years be tempted to click that link. Because Spam, Phishing, I don’t know, maybe somehow the uni can look into my browser history. You just don’t do it. But, this morning, working remote caught me off guard, I guess. So, I clicked..

Anyhow, here are ten articles that may support you in your efforts at working from home! Enjoy the read and get in touch if you’d like to contribute to our ‘MCEC Tips for Working Remote’-series.

How to Upgrade Your Home Wi-Fi and Get Faster Internet
If you’re stuck working or studying from home for a while, here’s how to get your internet up to speed. (Wired)

How to Be More Optimistic
Life is better with a half-full glass. (New York Times)

Tips for working from home — in style
Advice for those thrust by the coronavirus into the twilight zone between sofa and stairs. (Financial Times)

How to Stop Worrying and Love a Falling Stock Market
It’s perfectly natural to be terrified. But big losses bring certain benefits, too. (The New York Times)

Best Moments Of ElectroBOOM
Remember what it was like working in a lab.. (YouTube)

Is it Ethical to Order Delivery During a Pandemic?
People are being encouraged to stay home to avoid exposure to the coronavirus. Should they ask others to bring them food? (Wired)

Helping Your Dog Survive During a Quarantine
Quarantine means no one goes out — and that includes your pup, unless you have a private outdoor space for them. Here’s how to help your dog thrive while you’re both stuck indoors. (New York Times)

Exploring parser combinators
This is an experience report of playing with Megaparsec, a parser combinator library in Haskell. (The Wagner)

5-Hour Workdays? 4-Day Workweeks? Yes, Please
Sick of round-the-clock work emails and Slack messages? Here’s some hope. (New York Times)

A (Former) Night Owl’s Guide to Becoming a Morning Person
I love staying up late, but I hate struggling through the mornings. Here’s how I adapted, and how you can, too. (New York Times)