The coronavirus has caused life to look different over the past couple of weeks. As a result, like me, maybe working exclusively remotely for the first time for an extended period, and it can be a bit disorienting.
The lines that loosely defined the start and end of a traditional workday are blurred now more than ever. The kitchen table where you eat your breakfast and dinner now plays double duty as your desk or work station. Instead of an environment filled with peers and colleagues, who may, at times, act childish, you are continuously interrupted by your real children. And let’s face it, there is a daily temptation to replace appropriate office attire with “comfy” clothes. Even regular grooming acts of shaving for guys and applying
But don’t let the acclamation to this new environment cause you to back away or slow down in your forward progress. You can still be highly productive in this season, but it may take more effort and intentionality. Here are three strategies that will assist you in being productive while settling into your temporary new normal.
1. Be Consistent
Your work environment may have changed, and the work you are doing may even be different, but you have the choice to be consistent in the things that you control. Create a new rhythm. It may look slightly different, especially if you have young children you are also caring for at the same time, but make it compatible with your new work environment. Here are are few things to consider.
- Wake up at your regularly set time. You may actually find that you need a bit more time in the morning to get your workspace arranged.
- Keep a morning routine that you are familiar with; quiet time, reading, exercise, breakfast, etc.
- Get ready as if you are “going into the office.” Shower, put on something other than pajamas or sweat pants.
- Set regular working hours. Set a start and a finish to your day. Take a lunch and coffee breaks.
2. Be Persistent
James Clear, in his book Atomic Habits, says, “The most useful form of patience is persistence. Patience implies waiting for things to improve on their own. Persistence implies keeping your head down and continuing to work when things take longer than you expect.” Who knows how long we will be dealing with the effects of COVID 19. It seems like there are new assumptions made with every news cycle. We can not control the timeline of this crisis. What we can control is the effort we are going to put into moving forward with our responsibilities, our dreams, and our lives.
Focus not only on the urgent. Maintain work and persistence around those things that are also important. You may find that you have extra time during this season. Are there some large projects that you have found it hard to work on because of time? Maybe now is the opportunity to make progress. Is there a book you have wanted to write or a blog that you have wanted to start? What if the “Stay At Home” mandates are actually an unexpected gift of time? Don’t patiently wait for things to get back to normal. Be persistent to be ready to excel in the new
3. Be Interdependent
One of the hardest realities of being forced to work remotely is the loss of the organic socializing that happens in an office, retail, or any other work environment. When business meetings and interactions have transitioned to primarily happening via video conferencing and phone calls, it could be easy to avoid these same mediums for relational connections. However, it is essential to leverage technology in new ways to lean into relationships. This is especially crucial for social extraverts. Intentionally simulate some phone calls or video chats with friends for the sole purpose of being relational. Set up some online coffee connections to talk about things you would usually talk about with your
“Social separation” will probably end up being the slogan of 2020. But, maybe the focus should be called “Physical separation,” and a concentration of intentional digital “social connection” be a driving objective during this time.
The current reality of COVID 19 will pass, and life will return to normal or some version of normal. Many of us will soon
The current reality of COVID 19 will pass, and life will return to normal or some version of normal. Many of us will soon