I am writing this post in a time when people all over the world are having to adjust how and what they’re doing to ensure they stay healthy amidst the Coronavirus outbreak. Some people are working from home for the first time and many are also homeschooling their kids alongside telecommuting.
The change is rapid and unpleasant, yet the work still needs to get done.
So how can you stay sane and productive in this environment?
I suggest starting with the following three things to regain control, maintain your wellbeing and maybe even get ahead so that you can hit the ground running once things normalise.
1. Clarify the priorities.
This seems obvious and something we should be doing under any circumstance. It also seems like a no-brainer in a time when everyone is clear that we won’t be able to operate as normal and do all the things we usually do.
However, I think it’s all too easy to get lost amidst the chaos and worry, and then not optimise your time. So, to combat this, start by clarifying what your work priorities should be during this strange period.
If you’re lucky, your organisation or your line manager has already clarified that for you in a succinct email or in a meeting where you had the opportunity to provide input.
If you’re in a leadership role or the one deciding, start with the team’s long-term objectives, major projects or key deliverables and identify things they could still be working on to eventually make them happen. This will prevent the team from including too much seemingly urgent or busy work on their to-do lists.
And my fellow solopreneurs, if your client-facing work has slowed down a bit and you have some spare time on your hands, you could prioritise working on your business instead. You could brainstorm new products or services, improve your own business processes or network online.
2. Create a schedule.
If you’re new to working from home, you might struggle with the extreme overlap of your personal and work lives. To help with this, try to stick to your usual office hours, which will give you a sense of normalcy. You could also introduce small beginning-of-day and end-of-day rituals that will be like a mini-commute that signals when the workday is starting and ending.
Be careful not to get too side-tracked during your lunch break with chores or TV, otherwise you will be making up the time in the evening. Plan for only one hour for lunch and then quickly get back to work before your mind wanders off into your personal to-do list.
If you’re home with kids and your employer is flexible, try to set them up to do some independent learning activities for a few hours in the morning while you tackle your most important or creative tasks for the day. Then you can all take a quick break, followed by some direct instruction and lunch.
After lunch, they can do more independent learning or watch a documentary while you tackle a few more hours of work in the afternoon. You’ll probably be less focused by then, so leave all the admin and less creative work for this time of day.
You can also make up any lost time once the kids are in bed. This isn’t ideal, I know, but not much is at the moment.
In any case, be honest with your employer and make them aware of your circumstances. If you know you will struggle, enquire about leave options that are available to you at this time.
3. Focus on self care.
We often let go of our healthy routines when we are busy, experiencing change or uncertainty. We tell ourselves that we’ll pick them up again once things settle.
At the moment, we don’t know when things will settle down or how long this situation will last. So, why wait? And, frankly speaking, these are the circumstances when self care matters the most.
So, make sure that you are at least taking care of the basics. Try to get enough sleep and build at least a little bit of exercise into your day, even if it’s stretching for 5 minutes before and after work.
Working only metres away from your pantry will be a challenge but try to avoid snacking on junk all day. Take it from someone who’s been working primarily from home for nearly a year – a healthy breakfast and a light lunch help with your mood. Making healthier food choices will also keep you going even in the afternoon when you’re likely to procrastinate on your actual work with laundry or other random chores.
Most importantly, have perspective. As a former refugee, I know what it’s like to feel like your life is on hold with no end date in sight. But, believe me, this crisis will pass and then it will be time to resume as normal, so don’t waste this opportunity to keep plugging away at the things that really matter.
Thanks for taking the time to read the post. I hope you and your loved ones are well.