Your 8:00 AM Zoom videoconference is underway. You’re presenting a proposal to a prospective client. It‘s going well... until your 4-year-old‘s episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse runs its course and he wants a GoGo Squeez. Now. Temper tantrum ensues, and you are forced to pause your pitch until your kiddo’s needs are met.
You just put in a long day at the “office”, AKA the cramped corner of your 400-square-foot apartment. As you prepare your Cup-o-Noodles dinner, you remember you wanted to get caught up on some reports you promised your manager days ago. As you slurp your meal, you fire up the laptop again and get back at it.
Welcome to Work From Home (WFH)! Your work and personal lives collide, spilling over into each other in a blend of data processing and diaper duty. So how do you find work/life balance at a time when work and life are so closely aligned?
For starters, let’s not pretend we achieved work/life balance nirvana before COVID-19. Many of us bring work home with us - laptops, email on cell phones, etc. - before we had to make WFH, well, work. Many do not have set office hours, and some of us are allowed flex schedules to accommodate personal needs. However, we haven’t had it thrust upon us to this degree. So, here are some tips and tricks to help find some sort of balance:
Create A True Home Office
This is easier for those with houses, but it’s important for everyone to establish a defined office space in your residence. Clear off that desk covered with Ruffles crumbs and old mail and treat it like your work desk. Make it comfortable, yet professional. Improvise by using books or boxes to make laptops/screens more ergonomically correct. And try to avoid using this space for personal needs, if possible.
Set Work Hours
Try to mimic the same office hours you had before. Follow your work routine closely - prepare your weekly reports on Monday mornings like you usually do, hold your meetings (virtually) as you would before, even take coffee/lunch breaks! Maybe Skype with your buddy Steve from Accounts Payable as you sip your dark roast? And, when the day is done - unplug! Don’t check email (guilty of this myself), don’t sit at your home office, and don’t let your work hassles carry over into your evening or weekend.
Make Time For Loved Ones
Having two small children myself, this one hits home for me. Whether it’s your children, parents, siblings, or friends, find moments to connect. These are exceptional times, and your employer should recognize you can’t be 100% efficient, 100% of the work day. In the example I mentioned in the beginning of this post, your child needs you! Any reasonable person - client, boss, coworker - will understand. If not, maybe this is a sign you should find another job.
Laugh It Off
Finally, remember this - most everyone is going through this. Be patient with your teams, leadership, and customers as they navigate these waters. Instead of getting upset when your child yells into your phone as you conduct a teleconference, laugh it off! Find the humor in your circumstances. We’re all just trying to get by, right?
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