Working From Home - Keeping a balance

I effectively have been working from home since 2017, even though not all of that time was spent working.  Part of that time I was completing my second degree online from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

To really succeed at creating a balance between your work life and your home life when you don't have to leave your home to work is something that many consider a dirty word.

SCHEDULE

I am well aware that not everyone finds a schedule brings them joy like they bring me, but just because something doesn't bring you joy doesn't mean you shouldn't do it.   Just keep in mind if you are not a lover of schedules, you probably have them and keep them already, and you don't need to have an overly detailed schedule if that makes you break out in hives.  Think of this schedule as guardrails, while they are sturdy they can change as necessary.

Ultimately you have to find something that works for you and that means being honest with yourself when you create your schedule and identifying what you want to accomplish with your schedule.  In the end the important thing is making the life have the balance you want and need, how you get there is less relevant.

I personally find building a calendar/schedule to be easiest for me when I do this the old school way physically hold a pen/pencil and write on paper.  Give it a try if you are stuck and don't want to look at your calendar, you are smart you can read my advice and tailor it to your style.  

That is the whole point of this, your schedule will not likely look like mine but if you have a frame work to start tinkering with it is less intimidating than a blank page.  Do not be afraid to think I would never do X and then omit it from your calendar.  And you have to do Y and I never mention, add it to your schedule, you don't need me to tell you to add everything.

Be a scientist

Start with a schedule that you feel will help you be productive and one that you can sustain.  Use what you already know, even if you have to go back in history to gather some data.  For example if you feel you had a better life balance when you physically went into an office, re-create that schedule.

Write down what time you sat down at your desk and started your day. That is your WFH start time as well.   Next write down when you either shut down your system or walked out of the building, that is your WFH stop time.  And the stuff that goes in the middle take you best guess, most likely you had lunch around the same time each day so write that down, and note how long you take is it 15 minutes, 30 minutes, longer?

That is the most basic schedule you can have and if you were commuting into the office see you did have a schedule even if it wasn't formalized.  There was a rhythm to your day, and based on things I read and hear that is a large component of what is missing in the WFH life.

Work with that schedule a bit, and feel free to tinker with it, as you work make notes about what works, what you feel is missing, and what you hate.  And then make adjustments, that is what I mean by being a scientist, create your experiment (schedule), note the results, and adjust as necessary.

Use technology to your advantage

I have a love hate relationship with technology, and I am sure that I am not alone.  Part of what drives that is the addicting quality to it and how easy it is to use and access it.  However it can be fantastic and very helpful, it is a tool and we just need to wield it with care.  Below are some of the things that I do to help me take breaks and simply call an end to the day.  Try a few things listed or something else that you think of, just make it work for you.

• Block off your lunch time in your work calendar; and set the calendar to remind you to eat lunch.  Then actually get up and go to another room.
• Log out of your work computer at the end of your work day, yes it takes just a minute or so but it also means that if you sit down after dinner you are less likely to dive into work and do something you find fun.
• Remove messaging from your phone (for some jobs this is not possible) or set your notifications to silent at the end of the day.

 

Use household chores to your advantage

To help avoid burn out you need to take breaks.  When you worked in an office you didn't sit at your desk all the time, you got up and used the bathroom and probably stopped to talk to someone.  Maybe you went to get something to drink or simply walked around the building to get away from emails or the phone.  Guess what you can do that at home too.  Those little breaks didn't take a lot of time but got you moving and your mind in a different spot, you can do that at home too.  Do simple things like:

• Unstack your dishwasher, it doesn't take long but it is enough time to get you up and out of your chair and away from the computer.  It won't give you the social aspect that you had when chatting with someone on your way back from getting a drink but it does give you the down time.  
• Do laundry, either put a load in the washer or move it to the dryer or hang it outside on a line.  All of those things don't take but a few minutes, and if you are home anyway why not do them.  Laundry builds in a few breaks into your day.
• Go outside and get the mail
• Go outside and bring in the trash and recycling bins
• Call and schedule that donation pick up you have been meaning to do
  

 

For me the brilliant thing about interleaving these household chores during the work day day is multifaceted. 

1. Forces breaks for my eyes 
2. Forces my mind to shift gears and put things on pause
3. Adds some movement to my day (aka I am not glued to my desk chair)
4. Frees up some non-work time for fun things
   

 

Don't feel guilty

Don't feel guilty about doing non work things during the day, you did them when you worked in the office and you should do them when you are working from home.  Granted you were probably not doing laundry when you were in the office but you were making calls, planning vacations, grocery lists, menus, doctor's appointments etc.  It is fine, so you shift a few things, so you are doing laundry rather than planning your vacation during business hours, either way you are still being productive.

Remember as awesome as schedules are, they should never be so rigid that they don't allow for real life.  That means that yes your schedule is probably going to change, but if you keep your core items you can keep your balance.  If you are new to formalized schedules keep it as lightweight as you feel comfortable with.  It is entirely possible that a few set times that your enforce is enough for you to have the balance you need.

Note: I am not sure how many topics I will cover, but I do know I have at least two other topics and I will post them on the next few Mondays.