WRITING

This job aid was made for remote workers who need guidance on balancing work and personal time while working from home. To clearly convey this detailed information in a way that is complete and easy to understand, I used Piktograph to create an infographic. 

In a fast-paced work environment, it is important to communicate succinctly and coherently so that messages get communicated efficiently and effectively. An infographic is an excellent way to deliver detailed information because it gives a visual flow that is easy to navigate. The purpose of this job aid is for a quick reference for remote workers to look to as guidance on achieving work-life balance. Rather than reading dense paragraphs of research-back text, section headers, and visual aids help separate each piece of information. Each section is clearly numbered and separated by a bar of large text that contains the metacognitive question to consider. Beneath each question is a quick research-supported explanation and visual aids that relate to the concepts stated. For example, question one states, “Does my routine help switch my mindset into work/personal time?” Beneath that section is a 2-sentence chunk of text that provides a justification for this consideration and a tip that a person can apply to their workday routine. 

Like many professionals, I had to quickly pivot to remote work at the start of the pandemic. Although I have since returned in person, many professionals are still working from home. Research shows that this will be more commonplace as there are many benefits to remote work. However, many professionals can relate that the intersection of their work and personal environments poses a difficult challenge when trying to mentally “log off” at the end of the day. This was the basis of my investigation. Rather than composing a blog post or research paper to convey my research, I chose an infographic for its easily digestible delivery of information. Pairing visuals with text enhances the reader’s comprehension so that the message of the text is clear. The concise and clear nature of the infographic supports its user to make quick decisions because their eyes are drawn to important information that helps them navigate the document. While I was teaching online during the height of the pandemic, this infographic could have helped me regulate my work habits so that I was self-monitoring to avoid behaviors that could lead to burnout. I could have used this skill of producing a clear, concise job aid to support my teaching team to help them self-monitor as well. 

Creating an infographic was a great way to learn how to carefully consider what information is most pertinent for its purpose and audience to help professionals self-regulate work habits to encourage work-life balance. I learned how important it is to select the best mode of communication to convey information as well. I look forward to creating more infographics that will help teach concepts that are succinct and easily comprehensible.