Just because your home practice isn’t bad, doesn’t mean it can’t be better. In this section, the author outlines three reasons why you might want to make a change: 1) You’re tired of the same old, old age. one. If you find yourself in the WFH doldrums and it’s affecting your motivation and productivity, it’s time to change things. 2) There has been a change in your family routine. Maybe your spouse has gone back to the office, or your children have changed schools so you have a different pick-up and drop-off time. These changes in your environment are important and it means you have to think carefully about every part of your day. 3) You want to establish healthy habits. For some the shift to work-from-home interfered with their self-care as they repurposed their commute time to enjoy a morning nap or fit in some walks. evening. But for others it was not in the office that affected their healthy habits. If this sounds like you, try improving your schedule to better support your health needs. A few small tweaks to your routine can make a big impact and you can find a new way into the new year.
We are approaching three years since the first office travel, where millions of people found themselves at home all the time, at night. The initial shock of that change has worn off. So if you’ve ever been on an office flight, you’ve probably settled into something of a routine.
But is it time to make a change? As a time management coach, I’ve helped clients all over the world manage the shift from the office to home, and back again. What I have seen is that a few small tweaks in your schedule can make a big impact and can give you a new direction in the new year.
Here are some reasons why you might want to shake things up – and how to make these changes work.
Reason #1: You’re tired of the same old, same old.
One of the reasons why you may need to change your working time from home is that nothing has changed in the last two-plus years, and the monotony has gotten to you. Instead of starting work on time, you’re logging in and then going to sleep. You miss socializing with your coworkers. And every day is like the day before.
If you find yourself in those WFH doldrums and it’s affecting your motivation and productivity, it’s time to change things.
One of the most effective ways to do that is to change perspectives. I have seen people in coffee shops, libraries, or hanging out by the pool if they live in the summer. If you want a real office feel, you can also put yourself in a work space. Going out with other people may add some time and hassle. But if the summary helps you feel more energized and motivated, then it’s a win win.
If it is not easy to transport your work because you need a lot of your computer or other special things, there are still ways that you can use different things in your habits. One can wake up from a special co-worker. You can ask a coworker or friend to work with you on the phone. Or you can use a service like FocusMate, which will pair you up with someone else in the world who needs to get something done right away. do it.
Finally, you can add a little spice to your routine by adding something new and fresh. For example, if you sign up for ClassPass, you can try different gyms in your area. Each week can be an opportunity to experience something new. Or you can search MeetUp.com for events in your area. Sometimes having something to look forward to in the evening hours can help you focus more during the day. Clients I’ve worked with have also said that being in a state where they don’t think about being on their phones also helps them take their minds off work.
Reason #2: Your family routine has changed.
Another reason to adjust your work-from-home time is to account for changes that may not have happened to you, but are around you. For example, maybe your spouse has returned to the office and will be gone most of the day, or your children have changed schools and are ‘different’. pick up and drop off times are different, or you have a dog and now you are. need to match messages to your schedule.
These changes in your environment are important and it means you have to think carefully about every part of your day. For example, should you adjust your start time later or earlier? Do you need to find transportation assistance for school or sports? Do you need to make changes to your fitness routine?
Figure out how changes in your family routine will increase or decrease time, and then reset your expectations.
Reason #3: You want to establish healthy habits.
For some the shift to work-from-home interfered with their self-care as they repurposed their commute time to enjoy a morning nap or fit in some walks. evening. But for others, not being in the office affected their healthy habits, causing them to miss scheduled breaks and work later and sleep later. Others gave up their exercise routine when they stopped going to the gym at work and lost the energy. Still others may have bought the salad bar at the office cafeteria for DoorDash and found that even their stretchy pants no longer fit.
If this sounds like you, it’s time to improve your schedule to better support your health needs. Some solutions may include giving yourself start and end times so that you have time in the evening to relax and go to bed at a good hour. If you want more flexibility than a set schedule but you also want to have clarity on when you have “enough” for the day, another way is to count the blocks of work you complete, expect eight or nine hour long blocks. Once you have set your hours whether that puts you at 4 PM, 6 PM, or 8 PM, give your permission to stop freedom.
To start bending back in physical activity, you can start small. Some of the people I work with start with 10 minutes of exercise a day that they can do from home. Programs like Sworkit can give you short workouts and you can find tons of free videos on YouTube. Another strategy is to take short five-minute walks to relax instead of checking your phone. You need about the same amount of time and improve your health and focus instead of being distracted by them.
Finally, if you’ve struggled with food since working from home, you may need to use some time on the weekend or a weeknight to pick up or order food. Most grocery stores have pre-made salads and fast foods that are cheaper and often healthier than takeout. You can also pick up apples, bananas, baby carrots, and other quick and easy foods to encourage healthy eating.
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Just because your work-from-home schedule isn’t bad, doesn’t mean it can’t be better. Use these tips if you need a new relationship with your remote work schedule in the new year.
