I have been going through my folder of ‘thoughts’ and came across this one from last year. We have come a long way since then, but it is still relevant today as we continue to live with the unpredictability of snap lockdowns. Here goes:
I have always had opportunities to work from home to finish a report, focus on a project, complete a Uni assignment or complete an independent research project. They have all been short-term and focused on a specific outcome.
In the last two weeks, like many other people, my fulltime job has transitioned from the office to my home office.
What have I learned?
1. My home office is really the spare room. It is also my space where I am creative (i.e. sewing, writing, painting, etc.) and where the overflow from the house ends up.
2. I like going to the office. Even though it is a 50-minute drive, this 50-minutes gives me time to get into the right headspace in the morning and debrief at the end of the day.
3. I work so much better in the morning. My non-peak time starts at about 3pm, which is usually about 8 hours after I actually start working.
4. I do not take breaks. I know this is the case in the office as well, but there I have real conversations during the day. At home, I do not have opportunities for random conversations so tend to work long hours.
5. My daughter is very loud when listening to her Uni webinars and talking to other students about projects. Sharing a house with others working from home can be noisy.
What do I need to do?
1. I have set up my home office by clearing the desk, finding a suitable office chair and made sure it is facing out the window. Yes, I look at a fence but I do get the morning sun and this is my happy space.
2. Create a routine. My plan is to replace my morning and afternoon ‘drive time’ with exercise. I will also add breaks into my day – I will schedule a lunch break and take it.
3. Set up a task list for the day/week. I need to identify what I need to do during the day/week and schedule it out, and record how I have spent my day. A couple days last week I was very busy but by the end of the day I did not feel like I achieved much, looking at my list confirmed I did accomplish many tasks.
4. Set time aside for being ‘reactive’. That is, do not respond to emails as the pop up but set time aside to respond at specified times each day. Build these checks in my low work times, that is, when I am not totally focused…so after I take a scheduled break. By turning off email notifications, my times of flow and concentration are not interrupted making me more efficient.
5. Encourage my daughter to use her headphones so I hear much less of what is going on and her privacy is respected.
Some more tips from my colleagues that may help you
1. Dress in your work clothes. One of my colleagues uses this technique so his children know that daddy is at work. When he changes into ‘home clothes’ they know it is time to play.
2. Create a timetable for the door. Another colleague has children at home that are old enough to self-entertain for portions of the day. Setting up a timetable lets them know when she is working and when she is available to play.
3. Find your own workspace. Many of us are now sharing the home space with partners who are working from home and children who are either working from home or doing their school/Uni study at home. This has resulted in some families needing to find 3 different work spaces. Be creative and find a space that works for each of you.
As we are now almost 18 months past the original disruption, we have found our space. Occasional lockdowns do become frustrating for some of us, and business as usual for others. Remember to look after yourself and seek out the support and connections that help you grow and thrive.
