As the COVID-19 pandemic has forced so many of us to work from home. I thought that I’d just write up some tips, that have helped me during this time.
Don’t get me wrong, I love working from home. Having meetings in my pyjamas, grabbing a cuddle from our 5 month old when I need a baby fix are just some of the many things that I appreciate about it. But at times work from home has it’s challenges.
Because there is less structure, I sometimes feel like I work too much and can get a bit burned out. At other times I feel a that it’s hard to focus and get things done. A five month old baby does know how to distract you.
The key to overcoming these challenges is to set boundaries around your time and space. When your working, you are working. And when you aren’t working, then you are not.
Tips
Here are a few tips to help you to set your boundaries:
Tip #1 - Give yourself a dedicated workspace away from distraction such as TV, music and the kitchen. Shutting the door to your workspace is helpful, so that you are out of sight.
Tip #2 - Make a schedule and stick to it. Pretend like you are at work in the office. Stick to a routine. Play out for yourself what is acceptable, and what isn’t. Do I play with the dog or listen to music during “office hours”.
Tip #3 - You are going to quit at quitting time. Even if you are in the middle of a project, put it down. As it will help you get jump started the next day.
Tip #4 - Set boundaries. The people and animals in your life are seeing that you are home and thinking that you are taking the day off. But that isn’t the case. You want to explain to them, unapologetically, that you are working from home. The more they see you around the house doing your thing, the more they are going to understand that this is your time to focus.
Tip #5 - Celebrate your wins. Maybe at the end of the day you might feel that you didn’t get enough done. Sit down grab your favourite fountain pen and your favourite notebook and remind yourself of everything that you did that day. These reminders are really good as they get you in a positive cycle and might even help you feel even a little bit more focused the next day.
I hope these tips will help you as you work from home. And if you are looking into getting a great fountain pen and notebook to jot down your wins for the day, have a look at our product range on our website.
Take care of yourself and your people.
Stay safe!