Offices are empty!!
If you haven’t yet been sent home – there is a likelihood that you will be.
I have worked from home off and on during my career and it can definitely present its challenges. Sometimes the only “person” I will talk to for hours at a time is my dog. I think I have gotten better at it over the years and as a result have been able to manage my own personal wellbeing and resilience.
It’s not always easy going from a bustling and busy office to being on your own and still managing your wellbeing and the habits of a good work routine. Going into solitude is a big adjustment. So, don’t be too hard on yourself initially. On average – it actually takes most people 3-6 months to adjust to working from home – many of us have only had hours to adjust to this concept.
There are some great ways you can set yourself up for success.
So, what have I learned from my own habits and from the good advice of others:
Keep your routine
It’s very easy to slip into an unhelpful routine. You can get up late and sleep in, you can do chores, and then you finish late and work into the night. We can also get up and work furiously all day and forget what else or who else is in the house and work till the small hours. The lines between work and life can get very fuzzy.
Your travel into work usually provides a wonderful buffer between home and work, but that doesn’t exist at present. So perhaps considering your routine – getting up at the same time, having a shower at the same time, getting dressed, then sitting down at your usual work commencement time can be a good routine to keep.
If you have a break at lunch in the office, then have a break for lunch at home. Finish at the same time you usually would at work – even set your alarm to remind you. We all do better when we have structure and a semblance of routine.
Keep Connected
When most of us go into work – there is that first 10 minutes of the day where we say good morning to everyone, we get a coffee and we sit down and discuss the latest episode of that Netflix series we are all watching. So why not make this part of our morning. Set up a group chat / skype call every morning at the same time. Allow a quick 15 minute “tool box meeting” to occur for everyone to touch base, discuss where workload is up to, talk through any problems and stay connected.
And remember – just because you are at home does not mean you can’t talk to people – pick up the phone/skype/zoom etc etc – OFTEN. Don’t just email. Have an actual conversation. When we think about the fact that between 50-80% of communication is non-verbal – consider all that good stuff we are missing out on if we only communicate in writing.
Work From A Place That Boosts Your Mood
Try and sit in a spot that has great natural light, where you feel refreshed and comfortable and yet invigorated. I always buy flowers for myself or have plants on my desk to make my workstation fell fresh and inviting. I also make sure I have a dedicated workstation and don’t work on my lap sitting in bed or on the couch.
Put The Dishes Down
It is very very tempting to get distracted with all the things at home that need your attention and make a bargain with yourself that you will just clean the house now and then catch up on work later. But that is just creating a habit which leads to a bad routine and late nights catching up and worries leading to guilt and frustration. Remember to try and treat your “workday” like you would if you were at work. Have dedicated times for activities and maintain those boundaries.
A “To Do List” and a “Ta Da List”
Start out the morning with a To Do List – what is it that you want to get achieved today. What are your objectives, your goals and outcomes? Then attribute priorities to each one and go forth.
But don’t forget your “Ta Da List” as well. Write a list of things that make you feel really good (my list has 30 things on it I like to do that give me positive wellbeing – eg Take a bath, walk the dog, have a family dinner etc) and then make sure you do two things on this list every day.
Be Mindful Of Distractions
If we are lacking in motivation, or procrastinating on a task or struggling to get started – we have to be aware that there are a lot of distractions at home. Mobile phones, the pets, the kids, the tv etc etc. Recognise that occasionally our brain does need a break – but build in healthy and mindful “tune ups”. Go outside and stand in the sun for a while, Skype a friend for 10 minutes, make yourself a healthy snack.
The 90 Minute Rule
Our brain tends to work most efficiently in 90 minute blocks. We can all usually work well under pressure and maintain our levels of stress more effectively when we take regular breaks and let our mind and bodies rejuvenate with a few minutes to “smell the flowers”. You will find that after taking a quick break every 90 minutes – your productivity increases.
So, there are seven things you can do to stay effective and maintain your personal resilience while working from home.
It’s not always easy. We won’t always get it right all the time. It is a constant learning curve to get the right balance. But when our environment externally is so challenging right now, we want our internal environment to be as secure as we can make it and it’s important we find the right balance.
So, enjoy this opportunity and good luck.
Want to know more about building your resilience in challenging times? Contact Michelle on 0412047590 or via email michelle@bakjacconsulting.com
Michelle Bakjac is an experienced Psychologist, Organisational Consultant, Coach, Speaker and Facilitator. As Director of Bakjac Consulting, she is a credentialed Coach with the International Coach Federation (ICF) and a member of Mental Toughness Partners and an MTQ48 accredited Mental Toughness practitioner. Michelle assists individuals and organisations to develop their Mental Toughness to improve performance, leadership, behaviour and wellbeing.
