Our minds are filled up with so many little things that add up to the pressure. As covid 19 was upon us, the world rushed to find many different ways to contain it. Eventually, quarantine or the lock down was the solution to flatten the curve.
As working from home became the norm we convinced ourselves of how great it was that there was not need to wake up so early, go to the office, dress nicely, deal with co workers.
There are new challenges that present itself. Lots of distractions that get in the way of being productive. You did not anticipate the chaotic environment that your home could be with children entering and leaving the room, noise from the neighbour, the state of your home.
Effects of working from home
– Working alone – stress is more without the comfort of being with other people for support and guidance if there are questions
- Lack of self discipline – to regulate self to do what it needs to
- Lack of focus – lots of distractions to take your attention away from the task
- Lack of motivation – the purpose to accomplish is gone and we question why when there is so much uncertainty around
- Procrastination – there is really no schedule to complete a task at a certain time so it can wait or I will do it later
- No Structure to the day – missing the schedule that you used to follow, the meetings to attend
- Lacks the Consistency – the usual routine that was expected daily is now gone
– Uncertainty for employees – how long will this be for? Will I continue to be on the payroll, – Challenge to how to communicate with their managers and supervisors on their expectations with impact on how will they know how well I am doing
– Challenge for employee to make an effort to communicate
Setting up your day
How do you start the day? How do you signal the body that you are moving into one schedule? Follow a routine. Take a shower. Get dressed from the waist up. Practice good grooming if you are going to do video calls.
Say good morning and good bye to the people in the home to signal that you are now creating the boundary of moving from home to office
Don’t stay stationary in the same place for everything. If space allows you to, look for areas in your house that you can assign for what particular activity
- sleep, meals, work, hobbies
Ideal is to assign a room or space or a desk as the home office which is yours
If you are there then people know you are working and won’t disturb you.
If space is very limited and there are several people working from home,
Get a folding table, folding chair, put work things in the box.
Signal the office in a box
Put it away to keep safely when you are done for the day
This will work for a busy home where there is more people and space is used for multiple things and activities
Working effectively at home
- Only work the hours that you are expected to
- Respect your boundaries of yourself on when you are working and when you are not
- All day access to you via technology, doesn’t mean you need to respond immediately
- Be accountable to someone in your workplace for deadlines and accomplishing tasks
– If this applies to you, as long as project is done, who cares when it is done. It is up to your schedule to accomplish it
- Make lists – dont allow it to keepgrowing unless you are able to accomplish some significantly
- Complete emails in one go vs checking it several times a day
- Keep a calendar and follow it; Dont over pack it; Stay realistic on what you can accomplish
To stay hopeful : Make a list of all the things that you love to do (what gives you joy?)
To stay challenged : Make a list of Stuff that you like to do but not as good as you can be (can you get better at it at this time?)
To Stay realistic :All the things we dont like to do but may have to do it. Can we ask for help
Keep the list as a guide on what you may be faced with and keep a balance attitude towards them all.