What I wish I knew before I started working from home.

Working from Home. Good or Bad?

The truth is working from home can actually be hard.

I’ve create 5 tips to think about implementing if you are working from home or if you know someone who is.

Here are the five tips:

It takes time to adjust.

Change of any kind takes an element of mental adjustment. It’s ok to be ok with some of the new arrangements that COVID-19 brings, that doesn’t make you a bad person! But it is also ok with feeling confused, uncertain and overwhelmed by the new arrangements. The key is having patience with adjusting, it can take some time and some trial and error. Trust me, there have certainly been days where I felt like I was doing it all wrong!

Tip 1. Be kind to yourself and have patience with the process, adjusting takes time.

Others look like they are still being productive but I’m not even busy.

You don’t have to be busy. Implementing new processes and arrangements take some time to get running. For some they have left offices where processes were stuck in the 1950s! Remember the days of signing clients in, the photocopier doesn’t work, the constant interruptions, wait that was only a couple of weeks ago! For others, you may have more time on your hands because you have streamlined things and maybe parts of your role can’t happen at the moment.

What arises here is often guilt around whether you are doing enough. 🤭 I have always prided myself on being productive and when there are days where it can be quiet guilt and shame of not having a work project takes over. Again mental adjustment is needed. You don’t have to be busy but the social conditioning tells us we should be. Of course if there are projects you feel inspired to tackle, dive in. But check in with yourself as to whose need you are really fulfilling.

         Tip 2. Slow down and evaluate what is really happening for you.

Creating structure and routine.

Next on my list is creating some structure and a new routine which can take some time figuring out. I still continue to structure my day by putting it in my diary. At the end of each day I will take a minute or two and just jot down in my old school paper diary a rough outline for the next day and things that I want to achieve. I may also add time slots for some of those things. I love flexibility so I also go with my own flow, but working from home can take a little discipline so adding some structure has helped me.   


        Tip 3. What structure and routine can you start with to prime your day?

Creating a space that feels right.

The advantage of working from home is that you can create a space that you WANT to work in. When first starting my business, I knew that when I walked in to begin my work day that the space needed to feel good and speak to the way I work. This is where you can be more creative with your day and your space and have some fun. I wanted something that was calming and welcoming but also functional and beautiful while having all the tools I needed. To be honest though, I’m tweaking this all the time!

 Tip 4. Embrace your inner Pinterest and think of some key words to help create a space you love working in. Do those words match your space?

Cultivate connections. 👭

One thing that you should really work on now is staying connected and building networks. This is so important. Continue to reach out and create virtual meet ups, meetings or coffee breaks. We weren’t designed to be in isolation so you have to give this some thought and make an effort to connect, whether it's supervision, phone meetings while you take a walk or virtual tea breaks.  Often what has kept me in roles over the years is the social aspects of the team I’m working in but to have connection you need to connect.

This can be with peers or it can be your mentors that you have followed from afar. Remember lots of well published people are also going through the same experiences as you. I have heard lots of stories of people reaching out to people they have been following online for years because they are now available for appointments as speaking events etc have been cancelled.

Tip 5. Got a guru you stalk? Who can you connect with today? 👩‍🏫