Homeworking has really taken off due to the pandemic and is likely to continue into the future to varying extents depending on the job and company in question. There are some benefits and challenges to homeworking. It may suit some people who have space for a home office while others may struggle with child care, distractions and a lack of self-discipline. Social isolation too, is a real concern for some who miss the support of their colleagues, the social interactions and humour. Work is about so much more than just doing tasks. Public focused roles, such as customer services, have had the added pressure of ensuring that the relevant technology works at home. Saying that it has been nice to have a chat and a more human experience with some customer service assistants working from home.
I’m sure our experience over the last year will result in changes in the way we work ongoing. Some working at home can be a very productive time and allow us to concentrate without distractions if the environment is set up well. People will need appropriate equipment such as a desk, chair and a laptop with advice about how to work ergonomically. If there is not enough space at home for a permanent office set up, say in a flat, equipment and documents may need to be stored away / scanned so that the space is cleared after work for home use. Some review of this should be considered by management as storage units may be required.
Homeworking is a bit like marmite, you either love it or hate it. For most people having a mix of working some days at home and others at a work venue is probably desirable. Saying that, it is best if staff have a choice and a degree of control in the decision about where they work, which will result in them feeling happier. Working at home a few days a week could be very appealing if you have a long tiring commute, helping you save money too. I also think that work hubs could be something we see more of, maybe where a café, pub or hotel has created some desk space for people to meet and work alongside others. This can help create a physical break from where you live,making it easier to switch off after work.
It is also worth thinking about when you work best with different tasks, especially if you work for yourself and have some flexibility. Our bodies are subject to a circadian rhythm around 24/25 hours. We feel better at different times of the day and tired at others. This will vary with the individual. Some people are larks, up early and full of energy whilst others are owls and come alive later in the day. It is really important to work out what you are and try to work around this if you can in your role. My husband is a lark whereas I’m more of an owl. I tend to do easier tasks which are not so involved, earlier in the day and other tasks which involve some thought, creativity or decision making, later in the day when I get into a flow of focused concentration, often into the early evening.
In terms of self-discipline when working from home, the types of work done may vary but there are some general tips that can help. Firstly, some sort of routine gets the body and mind into good habits and auto pilot…so a start time, lunch time, end of the working day time and bed time is worth setting up for work days. It’s easier with home working to just stay up late watching tv or films and then struggle to get up the next day for work. Obviously, you can vary the routine as needed but having a basic structure for your work day is advisable.
Having a “To do List” is essential too so that you focus on the priorities for that day / week or month. It can be motivating if you write down actions for the next day at the end of the previous day. I often will leave something not quite done as I find it a good way to get me motivated at the start of the following day, remember I’m an owl so find mornings an effort. Our brain also likes us to finish tasks off so it will be itching to get closure.
If distractions are an issue for you, say background noise in your office, outside or at home try using a headset or playing music with ear buds.
Baroque music such as Bach is particularly helpful for concentration.
I also like putting on my diffuser and using certain essential oils to help me focus. Smell is a powerful sense so suitable oils that stimulate your brain can be helpful.
Another helpful concept is “chunking down” where you divide a task into smaller chunks….so for example if you’re writing a book or a training manual, think about the different chapter titles and work on each as a chunk. This is very helpful when doing things, you dislike too. Then give yourself a time limit to do one chunk, say a couple of hours or whatever is appropriate. Maybe it’s just me but I often find starting a task the most effort…often I will keep putting it off, but then, once I’ve started it, I usually enjoy it. This is especially helpful when I have to do my accounts for my tax return each year.
Other motivators are, giving yourself a reward for completing something you’ve found hard…maybe watching your favourite film later or doing something else you enjoy. Plus attending networking events, possibly online, is a helpful way to get support and meet like-minded people. There’s also coaching which is great for focused one to one encouragement and empowerment or you could set up some mutual mentoring with a work buddy or friend. All these options are especially helpful if you have your own business, work in isolation or from home.
It’s all about experimenting and working out what works best for you with homeworking. It’s nice when you can work flexibly, finishing work early if you’re tired on occasions or have something else to get to, as well as working late to finish something off when necessary. The need for self-awareness to manage yourself certainly does increase with homeworking. Ensuring you have a good work-home life balance and remain resilient in our ever changing work environment is so important and I’ll be covering this another time.
Katie James is a Sustainable Stylist & Confidence Coach and is based in Bramley, Hampshire
www.ConfidentlyYou.co.uk