By now, many of us are working from home, and are finding it’s a HUGE adjustment. In this vlog, I share 3 temptations that I have experienced over 27 years of working from home:
- Technology, in particular the TV
- Multi tasking – during virtual meetings and home duties
- Your bed!
These may or may not apply to you. But be aware that temptations there will be, come to terms with what yours’ are and figure out how to deal with them in a way that works for you. Be warned … it’s a work in progress.
You’re right on the nose with those temptations Marguerite. I’m not new to working at home, but I’ve learned some steps for being successful from in the past when I was a full-time online student.
Except for the bed, I used to do all the things you mentioned. I make my bed as soon as I roll out of it. You’re so right about an unmade bed being a temptation – more like an invitation to get back in?
The following is what worked for me after some weeks of chaos trying to find what works:
1. Schedule times to wake up and go to bed (finding the best times is truly a uniquely individual thing)
2. Schedule (and stick to) meal times
3. Stay focused on one task at a time (you’re really more productive and mostly likely to complete the task)
I know you’re at home but being at home still means being mindful of the hours in the day. We all have the same number, and the hours do go by fast so you want to feel accomplished at the end of the day.
Last, but certainly not least, schedule in your calendar, every day, what brings you joy (such as exercising, reading a book, watching tv, or hanging with family and friends). Without joy you won’t have any passion for life, or what you do.
Have a joyful day!
Bingo Eve! Thank you so much for sharing what works for you. It’s so important that whilst we learn from each other, we also figure out what works for us. Thankfully, I don’t need to schedule in what brings me joy – it’s innate. Very grateful.
Yours with ease, grace, joy and calm
Marguerite
Hello Marguerite,
You have hit the nail on the head three times. Since working from home is a new experience for me , I have been tweaking my situation from one week to the next. This is the 3rd week and so I like you, identified the challenges you pointed out and have tried to adopt similar practices to address. (I am fearful of getting too comfortable with the siesta, as I may need similar on my return to the former world of work). The challenge however, that up to this a.m. I am guilty of , arises when I do not have a 8:30/9:00 a.m. meeting, then I dawdle over breakfast, begin to scan emails, WhatsApp etc. and before I know it, I am still in my pyjamas at 9:00 a.m. I realize I must operate as if I have a morning meeting to attend & be focused, time bound, dressed and ready for ‘work’ at 8:30 a.m.
Kay
And so say all of us Kay! I have been in pyjamas all day, on a few occasions, so don’t worry. Luckily now, I have to walk the dog, so have to put on clothes for that (although I did just see a gentleman out with his child in winter coat and pyjama bottoms – at 3.30 p.m.!). What will get us through this? Our sense of humour!
Stay safe, isolated and dressed any way you want
Marguerite
Dear Marguerite,
I confess: Multi-tasking, multi-tasking AND multi-tasking!
I wish my bed would beckon me, it doesn’t, probably because it is immediately made-up once I roll out of bed, at an early hour! Terrible example from my mother since young, she was a neat freak! But it is a great day opener for productive work, as I have been trying to point out to my teenage daughter…no takers there…yet.
Technology and TV, ugh! The former too much like work and TV, what’s there to look at? ! But can we get back to multi-tasking…the curse of the technology age! And even after listening to Stephen Covey’s story on air traffic controllers and the human brain, I still find myself highly engaged in this mad endeavour. Help me Marguerite, help me!
Dear Karen – I am here to help! Just reach out