Working From Home

It would be an understatement to say things are slowly changing in the corporate or work environment. A pandemic has literally thrusted all of us into a new normal. For years we have talked about different working arrangements, the most coveted being Working From Home – WFH as many refer to it.

I am one of those people that has always wanted to experience WFH, flexible hours or a mix of the two. I can confidently say it is a win for me!!!! It is a change I would gladly love to see post COVID-19.

Are we coping? Are we doing it right? How can we make it work for officers and their supervisors?

I am a typical example of someone who was excited about the WFH option and have a few tips to share with you that have made this bearable.

So..lets get right into it,

YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT FEEL AND LOOK LIKE WORK

This one is the most important tips I can say has made my transition from the office to my home seamless. The journey from your bed to the designated working area is key. We often think we can be productive even on our bed and in our pyjamas. Sending out a few emails while huddled in your comfortable spot may seem like you’re killing it! (Rookie mistake). In order for your brain to accept that you still have to put in the hours and produce quality work, it requires a stimulus. Get out of bed, shower and change into something comfortable but clean. Yes, clean!

DRESS UP IF YOU NEED TO

Sometimes you genuinely just need to lift your own mood. Do you know those clothing items you wish were allowed at work? This is the time. The dress code policy doesn’t apply in your house! However, where video conferencing takes place, you might want to wear some appropriate clothing. Make work an event. 

On days when I have a lot of work or feel overwhelmed I dressing up and put on some make-up. Some days, its the uncombed hair that drives my excitement to be working from home. 

HAVE A SCHEDULE/TO-DO LIST

it is important to keep record of what you need to get done each day or the next day. This will help you wake up on time and manage your day. Also keeping track of the work you do will help you gauge whether you are doing more at home compared to work, or if you would rather be working from the office.

Preparing a schedule also helps you adjust and prioritise the important and urgent tasks to complete before heading to the kitchen to prepare lunch. You can even wake up early and get a lot done before the distractions start.

BREAKS ARE HEALTHY

Because I don’t have to commute and spend time in traffic, I schedule coffee breaks to distress and catch up on social media, the news etc.

Your lunch time break is still essential. You have to eat.

Put the work tools and phone away. Switch off and resist the urge to refresh your emails. Take a nap! To make this worthwhile you might need to communicate your lunch hour or breaks to your colleagues to avoid speculation on your whereabouts.

END THE DAY – KNOCK OFF PLEASE!

The misconception about working from home is that we often think we can work ‘longer hours’. It probably stems from or is influenced by how well you are able to manage or schedule your work during the day or at the time you choose or have agreed to work.

Have a start and end time or manage your day with tasks. If you aren’t working at night there is no need to be checking on your emails throughout the day. End the day.

A lot of people are either not coping or thriving with the WFH setup we have found ourselves thrown into. Managing a team remotely may be a difficult adjustment for a lot of people, and constant checking in may be interpreted as miso-management by those of the receiving end.

At each stage remember that the adjustment to this setup will vary from each individual. Be accommodative of those who quickly adapt and those who arrive a little later to the party- some may prefer to never attend the party. As a manager, let your team know how this is going for you, allow them to give you feedback about your leadership and management during this time. Let us all grow and learn from this experience.

Share your WFH experience in the comment section or on other social media platforms so we all know how you are doing. Remember it is not cast in stone, some things may work for you and not for the next person.