Managing our time/schedule has perhaps, never been more important. Working from home can have its benefits, but it can also have its distractions and self-mastery and self-discipline are key for this.
It may help you to know that I have personally mastered this, despite my wife giving me the nickname of ‘Butterfly’ !
The workplace not only provides us with a routine, but it also psychologically gives us a set of parameters and time frames to fit in with. To illustrate this, imagine showing up to the office at 11am in your pyjamas and watching Holly and Phil on your PC. It’s not going to go well is it?
So, here are a few simple tips that Mr Butterfly has utilised to make myself a more productive and happy home worker….
1) Create your own workspace
This might sound obvious, but it’s important to have a separate and if possible dedicated space that you work from. This enables you to get a ‘work mind-set’ when in that location and minimalises distractions. If you do have to use the dining room table, or coffee table, then it’s very important that you mentally and physically ‘end’ the working day. If you’re going to be having dinner on that table later, make sure that all of your work paper, pc etc are cleared away. Make sure this is done neatly, to save you time sorting out again tomorrow morning.
2) Timing
No, not the obvious one here, but set a time when you are productive and enjoy working. Not everyone is a lark that likes to start at 5am and finishes at midday. But if that works for you then great. I can get more done in between the hours of 12 and 6 at home that in any 9-5 office based day. Others are happy to work all evening and into the early hours. You may have some core hours to comply with for communications/meetings, but remember you are not confined by a 9-5 and have the freedom to work when you are at your best.
3) Quality over Quantity
There are a lot of organisations out there who want to see their staff in at 9am and staying until 5pm. This lockdown is hopefully going to make a lot of them rethink this outdated strategy and realise that its output and deliverables that count, not how long you are sat at your desk. It’s easy in an office environment to convince yourself that you are busy. But are you productive?
The question to ask yourself (at least 3 times a day) is ‘Am I adding value to my company/job or am I merely engaged in the business of ‘busyness’? Lose the employee mind-set and develop a self-employed mind-set. How would you be acting if your current job was at your business?
Over the years as a self-employed freelance trainer, there are a range of other tips and techniques, I’ve embraced that can be used to help you achieve goals and objectives and I will share these next time.
Want to learn more?
Nick will be delivering 3 new workshops for us during May and June. They will focus on key themes with time management, emotional resilience, managing change, stress and the wellbeing of ourselves and others during these difficult times.
