Working From Home
Amidst the COVID pandemic millions of people were uprooted from their daily routine to a new normal of Working From Home. For some this is bringing on many issues of struggling to find time for the x,y, or z that you used to be able to fit into your life and for others it is just a hard balance to get used to. I am in the unusual position where have been working from home on and off for about nine years so this is not a huge routine change for me. I started WFH when my boyfriend (now husband, Ian) and I moved to South Florida years ago. We were living in Brooklyn, where we had met and had been dating for several years before we both started to feel over whelmed by New York City. We had discussed moving for a while before Ian accepted a position in finance in Florida and I decided to followed along.
Before leaving, I was working for a wonderful designer in NYC, Eric Hilton. Eric was (and is) the designer responsible for many of the Holland & Sherry products and design of the showrooms around the world. During my time with Eric, I was helping to design and facilitate these showrooms as well as working on product development with many of the H&S staff. When I mentioned to Bryan Dicker, President of Holland & Sherry, that I was headed off to Florida, Bryan asked if I would come on with H&S to develop their territory in Florida. While I did not want to leave Eric, I was hopeful for a new opportunity in Florida and for some sunshine.
Fast forward a few months and 1200 miles... Ian and I are settled into Florida and its time for me to get to work developing this Florida territory… in a new state, in a new position, new roll, no office…. I don’t know if I have ever admitted it out loud but I was pretty nervous.
Needless to say the job worked out. I went on to develop the territory and open a showroom for Holland & Sherry in the DCOTA building in Fort Lauderdale. But getting there and working out of my house was no easy fete.
Today, nine years later, I run a small Interior Design business from a small home office. Since this has been my life for the past nine years, I thought I may have some pointers for the rest of you that are still struggling to find your new normal:
A calming bedroom shot from our Country Cottage project.
DO…
Try to create a work space where you can shut the door from outside distractions.
Get dressed every day. You don’t necessarily need to put on your nicest outfit but there is something to be said that if you feel good (showered, make-up, ready for the day) even if you put your lulu’s back on.
Schedule out your day for work and personal projects. If you were an avid exercise enthusiast prior to WFH and this was part of your morning routine, keep it as your morning routine. Get up exercise, get showered and dressed for the day. Have your morning coffee, morning meditation, etc. BUT do this all before you step into your work head space so that you get the most from your work time.
Continue on scheduling your day with TIME BLOCKING: 9 am emails, 930 follow up calls, 10 am project X, 11 Conference Call, 12 Lunch…. etc.
Get help. This is mainly for the parents out there struggling to get work done. This could be a spouse, a grand parent, a high schooler or nanny. In the current situation you obviously want to make sure this is someone who you trust to be taking the appropriate self distancing precautions. Work out a proper parenting schedule with your spouse if you are unable to find other help during this time. But don’t put pressure on yourself to do it all if you dont have to
Take advantage of a little extra time not commuting.
Wash your hands!
DON’T…
Try to do it all… You may now feel like you have an opportunity to work on things at home or laundry or dishes or cleaning or whatever else is on your list of PERSONAL things you want to do. Don’t try to do this during your TIME BLOCKED work day. Make an actual TIME BLOCK for it. For me This is usually a 930, after lunch, and after 5 type of activity. If you get up every 30 minutes to do a personal project, you pull yourself away from your work head space. For me it does not work.
Act like this is a vacation… Hold off on your cocktails (or whatever) until after 5 or later.
Take a nap. If you are feeling sluggish, go out for a quick walk. You will be surprised as to what fresh air and exercise can do for the brain.
Check your social media during your time blocks for projects… Whoops 20 minutes later… your days will be as fast as any.
Put off for tomorrow what you can do today.
I know some of this may seem a given but when your home is your new office it is hard to create a separation between the two.
I hope some of these tips are helpful in setting your day up for productivity.
Xoxo