Tips for balance while working at home

I am struggling to find the words to write the intro to this post due to the fact that I can barely wrap my mind around the events of this week!  If you are reading this in March 2020, you will know that we are right in the middle of a world pandemic.  I don’t need to go into the details, and I am sure by now everyone has had their fill of lockdown related information, but what I do want to do is go over a few tips for those in isolation, and those working from home - or wanting to work from home in the future.

Set a Daily Routine
Being in isolation can feel a bit like you are trapped, and you can very quickly get sick of looking at the same four walls day in, and day out.  You can very easily go into weekend mode, and spend your days curled up on the couch bingeing Netflix, which you are completely entitled to do, but if you are aspiring to use this time to grow professionally, the best way you can start is by having a daily routine.  A routine can seperate the weekdays from the weekend and teach your brain very quickly when it is needs to be in work mode.

Some examples of this are:

• Getting up early on weekdays, vs sleeping in on the weekends.
• Scheduling your weekdays into blocks for working, learning, exercising, planning and having scheduled break times, and then having a more relaxed approach on the weekend days.
• Reducing time spent on leisure activities such as watching tv during the week, saving these to enjoy on the weekends
• Being strict about the time you finish work each day so that you can enjoy a normal evening routine
• Going to bed early on weeknights to give your body ample time for rest which will help with focus and motivation, vs letting yourself stay up a little later on Friday and Saturday nights.

Personally, after being in self isolation for 4 days so far, I am finding my routine a saving grace.  My kids have also come up with their own routine and have thrived on it - including getting some school work finished that they both had been putting off!

Use Technology
We are incredibly lucky to be battling a pandemic during the age of technology.  Not only can it keep us well entertained in our downtime, but it is also extremely effective in keeping our businesses running and our teams collaborating efficiently.
Here is how we have been using technology to keep ourselves running for the past week:

Microsoft Teams
Collaboration has never been easier thanks to Teams.  Included in most Microsoft 365 packages, Teams allows cloud storage of files, chatting and video calling with clients and colleagues, and access to an array of add-ons that you can use to organise your tasks and your work.  Video chatting with Teams is easy to set up and has been essential this week for having that face to face contact that we’re all used to.

Trello
This is not something new in my arsenal of productivity tools, but it has been a lifesaver this week.  My system allows me to forward tasks from email, directly to Trello, giving the opportunity to schedule it into my calendar.  This has helped this week with the additional tasks that have come my way, being able to quickly send them to a place they are not going to be forgotten about and get back to what I was doing is an essential to staying focused.

VOIP
Having a phone number that can be forwarded to a mobile is a fundamental service for us here at Wright Way Design.  Our Toll Free 0800 number forwards to us wherever we go, which means when we are stuck at home in isolation, we can carry on business as usual when it comes to answering the phones!  Even better, an after hours schedule takes care of the calls that come through when we have finished working for the day, by sending them to voicemail - which emails us so that we can easily respond the next day!

Focus on what you can control
It’s very easy to become wrapped up in the goings on of the world around us.  Search the virus-that-shall-not-be-named and you will end up with pages and pages of news stories from all around the world.  But that is not getting you anywhere.  You can’t control what’s happening, or stop the repercussions, but what you can control is what’s right in front of you.  Your daily routine, your home life, whether or not you spend the entire day in bed.  You’re in control of that and it’s up to you to make the most of it.  Now is the time to grow, spend those quiet days at home focusing on improvement, whether it be personal, professional, or even spiritual.

2020 will go down in history as we survive the first worldwide pandemic in modern history.  The first time we have had several countries in lockdown at the same time. You can either remember it as the time you threw your hands in the air and gave up, or you can remember it as the time you made the most of a bad situation and focused on growing, developing and improving.

Don’t forget, if you ever need any advice about the things covered in our blog posts, or on our Instagram or Facebook accounts, feel free to reach out for some free advice.

The first issue of our WD Family News monthly newsletter is coming out this week!  If you would like to receive a copy to your inbox when it’s fresh off the press, click here!

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