By Deena-Lee Boothe
Start your days with some positivity & by centering yourself
This will put you in a positive frame of mind to tackle the day ahead. Try incorporating one of these activities into your morning routine: devotions; listening to uplifting music; watching a motivational video; reading an inspiring book; starting a gratitude jar; listening to a podcast or journaling.
Create a schedule
This is the Holy Grail to keeping your work-life balance. The structure and routine you had going to work needs to be replicated working from home. Otherwise, you may end up waking up last minute, without time to get dressed or become so consumed by work, you end up having lunch late or not at all, as well as work well past work hours.
This will put you in a positive frame of mind to tackle the day ahead. Try incorporating one of these activities into your morning routine: devotions; listening to uplifting music; watching a motivational video; reading an inspiring book; starting a gratitude jar; listening to a podcast or journaling.
Create a schedule
This is the Holy Grail to keeping your work-life balance. The structure and routine you had going to work needs to be replicated working from home. Otherwise, you may end up waking up last minute, without time to get dressed or become so consumed by work, you end up having lunch late or not at all, as well as work well past work hours.
Photo by Manasvita S on Unsplash
Set some reminders in your phone to help you stay on track.
Here’s what mine looks like:
Create a designated “workspace”
Have an area in your home so that when you enter that space, you are at work. When you leave this space to go to lunch, do not return until lunch is over and when work is done for the day, also physically leave that space. This will help you mentally distinguish work from home.
Meal prep
Consider preparing your meals in advance over the weekend or even every couple of days. This will make your lunch and meals a lot simpler and be less of a hassle during the workday. It also will give you additional time to unwind during your lunch break or time to do a few chores around the house to stay active.
Exercise
- Wake up, exercise (I try to do at least three 30-minute sessions a week), devotions/Journal/Gratitude Jar
- Get ready for work, have breakfast, get to work
- Have lunch (away from your designated work space)
- At the end of the work day (leave your designated work space for the remainder of the day), unwind
- Get ready for bed, bed time
Have an area in your home so that when you enter that space, you are at work. When you leave this space to go to lunch, do not return until lunch is over and when work is done for the day, also physically leave that space. This will help you mentally distinguish work from home.
Meal prep
Consider preparing your meals in advance over the weekend or even every couple of days. This will make your lunch and meals a lot simpler and be less of a hassle during the workday. It also will give you additional time to unwind during your lunch break or time to do a few chores around the house to stay active.
Photo by Szabo Viktor on Unsplash
Exercise
Working from home means those additional steps you use to take commuting, while at work, going out to lunch or going to the gym are now non-existent.
A few alternatives to the gym could be: going for a run or walk around your neighborhood or even in your parking lot; doing a quick workout in front of your TV or skipping. Consider investing in some simple exercise equipment. There are also free workout apps like Nike Training Club and many others (check your app store) that can help you stay in shape.
When you are at your desk get up and move every 1-2 hours. Take a water/coffee break, walk around when you get a phone call or take a walk outside during your lunchtime. Whatever it is, just keep moving!
Prioritize your tasks
Set aside dedicated time each day to catch up on your emails, address important tasks, follow-up on items and plan for the day ahead. I usually set aside 30 minutes in the morning and before the end of work. Try not to schedule any meetings during this time so that you can adequately focus on what you are trying to get done.
Make time to socialize & unwind
If you don’t make time for wellness, you will be forced to take time for your illness.
~Joyce Sunada
A few alternatives to the gym could be: going for a run or walk around your neighborhood or even in your parking lot; doing a quick workout in front of your TV or skipping. Consider investing in some simple exercise equipment. There are also free workout apps like Nike Training Club and many others (check your app store) that can help you stay in shape.
When you are at your desk get up and move every 1-2 hours. Take a water/coffee break, walk around when you get a phone call or take a walk outside during your lunchtime. Whatever it is, just keep moving!
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| Photo by Maryjoy Caballero on Unsplash |
Prioritize your tasks
Set aside dedicated time each day to catch up on your emails, address important tasks, follow-up on items and plan for the day ahead. I usually set aside 30 minutes in the morning and before the end of work. Try not to schedule any meetings during this time so that you can adequately focus on what you are trying to get done.
Make time to socialize & unwind
Working from home means that you no longer have the usual casual interactions you are accustomed to at the office. Make the effort to socialize with your coworkers by talking about more than just work or by catching up with family and friends. Make plans to unwind after work and get out of the house, if possible. Meet up with a friend for lunch or plan a small group activity, exercise, go for a walk/run, while maintaining social distancing guidelines.
The truth is, there is no perfect guide to seamlessly transition to working from home: not without trial and error. Do not be afraid to experiment to find what works best for you and your team. The key is to establish healthy boundaries and a schedule that maximizes your productivity, whilst maintaining a balance between work and your personal life.
I hope that with trying a few of these tips it will make your transition much smoother.
What are your lessons learnt working from home?
Photo by The Creative Exchange on Unsplash
The truth is, there is no perfect guide to seamlessly transition to working from home: not without trial and error. Do not be afraid to experiment to find what works best for you and your team. The key is to establish healthy boundaries and a schedule that maximizes your productivity, whilst maintaining a balance between work and your personal life.
I hope that with trying a few of these tips it will make your transition much smoother.
What are your lessons learnt working from home?
Read Confessions of a Scrum Master Part 1 here --> https://agilecaribbeanlink.blogspot.com/2020/07/confessions-of-scrum-master-adapting-to.html
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