Welcome back! Let’s jump right back in. So you should have already found, hooked up, and decorated your work space. The next part of this series is going to handle the routine and schedule.
*Importance of a Routine!
Okay, so now we’re up to the routine. This is honestly no less difficult than setting up a functioning office space. It’s just as important and might be even harder since it will really test your will power. What do you mean I ask? Let’s get into it.
When you first start working from home establishing a successful work routine can seem quite daunting. You might not identify some things as distractions until they suddenly appear. You might find yourself needing more quiet to get things done. Or perhaps the opposite, maybe you’re used to having background noise and are looking for that to get things done. It can’t be the tv because then you’ll just go over and watch it. So, how are we going to do all this?
Well the answer is creating a really strong schedule and making it stick. Think about it this way, when you were going to work you would get up, have breakfast and then head to work for endless hours a day, return from your office, have dinner, and relax before calling it a night. That is still a schedule that you are following. Maybe someone else laid out the timing restrictions for you but never the less it’s a schedule.
Now it’s time to do the same here. But on your terms :). Because…
Without having some kind of schedule and making it a daily routine, the possibility of creating a successful “work from home” environment is almost impossible. You need to create a routine that adapts to your new surroundings and tasks. Do not let procrastination take over because it does become a real problem for so many people, even if you haven’t had to deal with it before. And tackling those negative habits will make everything that much harder.
The good thing is, is that you are in control of what your schedule will look like and can adjust it as needed to make you the most productive person ever! So make sure to do that.
Okay, sample schedule time.
*Try This Easy To Follow Schedule!
The following is a simple sample schedule that generally adheres to everyone’s wants and needs. Remember, you’ll be able to adjust it to specifically fit what you want but here is a good template to follow.
Okay, we’re back.
1. Morning Routine:
Wake up, tonics, breakfast. These are the three main factors in most people’s morning. Mine personally includes a morning workout (new since being home) and takes out breakfast since I practice a bit of intermittent fasting. But set your wake up time the same everyday and get about your morning.
2. Morning Schedule Prep:
**Crucial Step Alert! This is a must do. You need to know the deadlines of each task and project, and order them accordingly so nothing gets handed in late or left behind. Remember no one is reminding you to get this done or hand that in. Make sure you schedule all your projects so you know what to work on first. Do not let this be your downfall!
3. Work Period 1:
This is your “Get Your *ish Done” period. This will most likely be one of 2-3 work periods you can schedule for yourself. I say 2-3 because we don’t really know how much work each person has. Would I like it to be 2 to avoid burn out? Absolutely, but I know a lot of people have to do a bit more after dinner, so 2-3 it is. But seriously. Get to work. Do not get distracted. Handle that project to do list.
4. Lunch:
Yay! We’re eating. I would recommend scheduling an ending time though. Especially if you’re one of those people who eats with the TV on, you don’t want to accidentally fall into a Netflix hole and the next time you look at the clock its 4pm and you missed your deadline.
Do you notice how much I am stressing deadlines! Be attentive people.
5. Work Period 2:
Independent task work time! I am assuming, since this is the way I would handle my schedule, that anything with a deadline of today, tomorrow, or even this week is at the top of your To Do’s and is done as early as possible, meaning the morning.
That leaves everything with a MUCH LATER DEADLINE or no deadline at all to be done later in the day. This is that time.
Again, handle your deadlines first, then work on long-term projects in the afternoon so you don’t have to be anxious about handing something in on time.
6. End of Work Day Wrap Up:
This will signal the end of your work day hopefully. Obviously this is on a 2 period work schedule rather than a 3. Make sure to pick a specific time to end your work day. Especially with work at home, being able to turn off the work communications can be very difficult so scheduling a specific time to finish for the day is really important.
7. Dinner and Relax:
You can have a specific dinner time if you want. It’s really up to you and what you are comfortable with. For the most part, just make sure that you know when the work day ends and your relaxation time will begin. This will help you keep some sanity during the transition period.
*Social Medial Breaks
Social media is something that everyone should be taking seriously. It should be considered an attention blackhole more than anything else because of its readily available nature. Because all social media has a phone version app and a lot of us use our phones throughout the work day that distraction is literally right in front of our face at our fingertips.
It will take a lot of will power to not click on something and start scrolling. If you think that it won’t be a bother and you won’t waste much time on these platforms that’s great. For others though it might be good to create a social media folder on your phone, place all those apps in there, place it at the very end of like the third screen. That way once you are on your phone social media won’t be thrown right in your face.
Now, if that’s still not enough and you find yourself swiping right 3x to reach that last folder, and you go into it and then select an app, you’re probably addicted and might want to think about that on another level… But with regards to work, it is probably a good idea to delete it for the work day, or work week and put it back on during your free periods such as evenings or weekends. I know it sounds drastic but with working from home, it is very easy to let the little things pull you away from necessary work that has to get done. Do not let that happen.
*Tech and Tools
The last thing that need to discuss is the importance of tech and tools. Yes we touched on this in the beginning of the series when talking about defining your space but we should discuss it a little further.
Being in the current circumstances everyone is basically making do with what we have. We understand that and managers understand that, and no one can really ask too much more of you. That is unless you already had an at home office prior to the global quarantine.
However, it is important that you still maintain a certain level of professionalism with your colleagues, clients, and bosses. Just because you are working from home does not mean that professionalism falls to the wayside and how you appear online or in communications is a big part of that. So you need to make sure that your tech and other tools are setup as best as possible.
In addition, if you find yourself really liking the “work from home” concept and might want to prolong this once everything does get stabilized and brought back to normal, you’ll definitely need to up your tech. And the only way for you to be allowed to continue working from home, especially once everyone returns to in person interactions, is by making sure that your tech setup, your video quality and online presence supersedes being there in person.
I will list what I currently have at home that helps me with my on camera presence during my zoom calls and some other items that I have:
Ring Light (2)
Apple MacBook
Canon Rebel Camera
Camera Tripod
Camera battery adaptor (to stay plugged in)
Iphone with apple headphones
Printer
White Board and dry erase markers
It’s not a lot. I also don’t use all of it. But I do use what I need when necessary. And more importantly I have access to the materials in case I need it.
*Summary
Alright friends, I hope this 2 post series is able to provide some straightforward tools on how to get your work from home office off the ground.
If you missed the first post about creating your home office, you can find Part 1 here.
Pay close attention to the items that were listed. Also take note if this is something you do find yourself liking better and something you might want to continue in the future. If it is, this might also be the time you want to start thinking how to persuade your boss that your much more successful working from home than the office.
Remember:
1. Find your space
2. Make your new schedule a routine
3. Get your work done
And as always, If you have any questions, comments, or ideas please share them in the comments section below with your fellow parents! And definitely subscribe to the newsletter for updates and ongoing happenings at TylekTeaches.com. The subscription link is just on the right hand side of this post.
Good luck!
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