“Ma’am I feel so overwhelmed. I have so much work now and I am unable to focus on anything.” said an IT professional during our 30 minute complimentary consultation call.
“I don’t know how to handle the kids. They are fighting and yelling and I’ve to continuously be after them to do each and every task.” said a mom of twins.
“There’s so much noise. The TV is on, someone is singing, the children keep demanding attention and there’s continuous disturbance. How do I work?” said a father who lives with 6 people in the house.
“I feel so lonely at home. I love being with my colleagues and I miss my office environment.” said another caller.
As I heard their stories I wondered how each one of us might be processing this situation of work from home differently. Let me confess when I heard my husband is going to be working from home the first thought that crossed my mind was, “Oh! I have only one laptop and one desk, how will we both work?”
This thought made me feel low and instead of stretching that thought; I sat down to create my action plan to navigate through this phase of working from home during the lockdown.
In today’s post I am sharing few strategies that are currently working for me. Do try them and share your feedback in the comments.
- Communication:
My work involves writing, talking to clients and conducting online sessions. I created my schedule and shared it with my husband and daughter so they are aware of my working hours.
It’s important to communicate your work timings to your family so they know that you’ll not be available during your working hours. Talk to your children, spouse or parents and make them aware of the situation and demands of your work.
Also communicate to your clients, colleagues or supervisor about your availability during the day. This way you could set clear boundaries.
2. Setup your Work-space:
Some of us maybe blessed to have a separate desk and laptop however many of us may not have that space. So create a work-space for you. It could be a corner of the room or your bed. Setup a laptop desk or arrange pillows for your comfort. You could use noise reduction earphones to focus on your work.
I prefer to listen to some Tibetan music while writing or designing and when I am on client calls or conducting sessions, I need absolute silence. Check what works for you and design your space accordingly.
3. Plan and Set up your Routine:
Every night before going to sleep I journal few questions,
What is it that I want to accomplish tomorrow?
How do I want my day to unfold?
How do I want to feel tomorrow?
These questions allow me to plan my day.
Observe the time of the day when you feel energetic and productive, If possible schedule your wok depending on your energy levels. I design the posters, write, and think in the morning. Afternoons are for calls and replying to emails. Setting up a routine according to my energy levels has allowed me to be more productive and aligned.
4. Invite your family to your Work-space:
If you notice that your children or parents are continuously seeking your attention, think again. Maybe this is the time you could invite them to connect and show them what your work day looks like. Talk to them about your current projects, brainstorm some ideas with them and you’ll begin to notice that your connection strengthens.
5. Connect with your Colleagues:
Some of us maybe living alone and office could have been a space to connect with friends and colleagues. However physical distancing need not stop you from building a connection. Schedule video calls with your colleagues and trust me, technology is a boon at this moment.
6. Hydrate & Move:
Keep a bottle of water next to you, set reminders in your mobile so you drink water at regular intervals.
It is highly essential to move or stretch your body as the chairs at home may not be comfortable like our office. Also some people may not have chairs or desks so yoga or simple movement exercises will allow the body and mind to feel fresh.
7. Be Mindful:
Do you check your mobile while you are working on any task? Do you talk or chat while typing an email or working on any project? Do you keep switching tasks or do multitasking?
Then you could feel exhausted by the end of the day. Some people who multitask feel they haven’t accomplished anything even after putting in 9 to 10 hours a day.
This is where mindfulness plays a significant role. Do one task at a time; finish it and then move on to the next task. This allows your brain to be at its peak and you feel productive at the end of the day.
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These were some tools that work for me currently. What is it that works for you? How do you schedule your day? What are the challenges you face and how do you work through those challenges?
Let the conversation begin in the comment box.
Take care and Stay Safe.
Love & Light,
Gayu