Is your "home-work" complete?
Wait a minute there hasn’t been school for all lately. Well I suggest you make up work for those littles right now! Homeschool was not on my list of required skills! Let’s figure out how we can all get our “home-work” done.
Now more than ever work and home have to be integrated and for many this a new way of working and living.
With the COVID-19 situation, many people who don't normally work remotely are working from home—and it can be hard to focus. Especially with young ones and spouses or adult children all at home as well.
As I’ve mentioned before there is no “normally” right now. It's time to get a routine going so you can be successful regardless of what your role is at home-work.
Everywhere across the globe, and in Canada, we are seeing the mass layoffs and close friends who are now out of jobs. Losing work is stressful on its own, let alone in this unanticipated time (more on navigating this for employers and employees in a future post).
I’m happy to see governments stepping up to help and yet there is so much more to do. And right now!
Hang in there. And look for supports you need to get through this.
Here are a few tips to help you navigate working from home:
Home Office Set Up
If you haven’t set yourself up properly from the beginning you’ll be uncomfortable and lose lots of productivity. Start by making your work space user friendly and ergonomically well set-up.
Maybe you're working from home, and so is your spouse, who now needs your home office. Your adult learners and young children are also home and there just isn’t enough space. I have colleagues working in music rooms, or cat’s rooms or at the kitchen table.
Whatever your situation, get this set up first. One of my clients was generous and provided funding to each employee remote worker for whatever they needed to get a home office up and running.
Many companies also quickly moved to online video (and yes Zoom are now kicking it!).
Photo by Paige Cody c/o Unsplash
Clear the Clutter
What a perfect time to move some furniture and rearrange those boxes and papers lying around. Start clearing that clutter and Marie Kondo or Feng Shui whatever you can to be set up for productivity and successful work and life harmony.
I haven’t been doing a great job of this yet but have cleared up enough space to work for now while my hubby hogs the home office and our son occupies part of the basement. Katie, unfortunately, can’t be with us at this time as the three of us were in 14-day self quarantine. (Please note we left before the advisory). Her desk might be a great place for a change of scenery since I can move my laptop around with me!
It’s a great time to start the spring cleaning and create those piles - what can I get rid of? what do I need? what don't I use? what can I donate? what do I love and have to keep?
Some people love to keep things for a garage sale or sell things on Kijiji but I prefer to give away what’s useful to those who might need it so will save for donations when I can.
The more time we take upfront to create the beautiful space to work in, the more energy and positivity we’ll feel to get our work done without the distractions!
There are tons of great tips here.
Keep Scheduled Hours
This is really important for productivity, and it's also helpful for anyone else who's home with you. As leaders it is also important to set this up in advance so everyone knows standard hours.
While initially it has been chaotic and there will be a core team of people working on business continuity plans, the rest of the teams need to know they should work as close to possible as their prior in-office hours.
While at home, let others know what your working hours are and protocol for interruptions. While many are being human and more understanding with dogs barking, and toddlers walking about, try to set up a routine and standardized home office vibe.
As a bonus, if you no longer have a commute, use that travel time to workout and start your day off with exercise. Sometimes it takes effort to keep to a schedule at home. Even if you aren’t keeping the same hours you did when you were heading into an office, try to have some kind of regular routine by waking up and heading to bed at the same time, work, exercise, TV-watching, reading, etc.
Keeping scheduled hours and routine, will help you stay on track.
Take Breaks
It’s also important to take breaks every hour - a stretch for 10 minutes, a walk up and down the stairs or light push-ups. It works to re-energize. When you start to lose concentration, transition to something else, but don’t scroll for hours! Maybe respond to a few emails or make phone calls after you’ve tackled a big project.
Pick a time to check the news and updates on COVID-19 - maybe only in the morning and then before dinner. The news can wear on you when you have to focus on tasks and work you have, along with the new household responsibilities you’re trying to share at home. You need breaks from the news!
Research also shows that it is impossible to multi-task so don’t try that and try to keep away from household chores as a break. It’s important to be working when you have to work (although it’s definitely a different time with kids home from school).
Breaks such as grabbing water or coffee/tea are something you do at the office, so it’s fine to do the same while you are working remote.
Take a break with a colleague on a video call to stay in touch.
Dress for Success
There will be some relaxation in having to deal with this sudden change but from experience of working remote for years off and on, you’ll feel a lot better if you dress the same as you normally would when you meet with clients or go into the office. Stick to the same attire if you are facing the public or colleagues via video.
While we all joke about being in bunny slippers or pjs all day, most people get more accomplished if they are dressed for success. It’s a psychological thing for sure so stay authentic to what you’ve done daily before this sh*t hit the fan.
You want to look professional, set up your office so it’s not distracting to you or those you might be on video with. Most people are pretty relaxed about this but it really makes a difference to your frame of mind if you feel good about yourself and how you show up.
If I don’t have to be online with anyone or am doing heads-down work I find it okay to be in comfy clothes to grind it out as well. Do what feels right and helps you accomplish your projects and tasks.
Be Human
I wrote about this recently as well, the main thing during this work from home epidemic is to be kind and human. We are all going to have that barking dog, or screaming toddler, or whiny teenager coming in the room just when we’re about to make an important point on a video-conference.
Or the doorbell will ring when there is a delivery since you can’t go out! Remember we are all in this together.
We need to be patient with our colleagues and family members. We need to control what we can - our attitude and behaviours.
And hopefully some of this will start to me more prevalent in our future of work as well.
If you need someone to chat with, reach out. Listening and an empathy are required now more than ever.
Be Well,