Creating a Productive Work From Home Schedule
At this point, working from home is not new––but with the days getting warmer and school ending soon, this transitional time of year can really throw a wrench in your WFH flow. Something that may become even more critical as more companies consider a hybrid model for their return-to-work plan. Let’s take a step back and look at what it takes to create a productive work-from-home schedule.
Lay Out Your Day
Or week, or morning! In this crazy world of working from home, don’t put pressure on yourself to create a perfectly curated, influencer-worthy routine. Sometimes just laying out what tasks you need to get gone before your first meeting can help get you in the right headspace to conquer your day. If you have other tasks at home you need to get done (laundry, lunches, etc.) mapping out your day can help you figure out when to slot in these extra chores versus having them nag at the back of your mind all day.
Find a Rhythm That Works for You
Are you a night owl? Early bird? Find the time when you are most productive and shift your working schedule that way. Meetings, naturally should stay in the accepted 9 to 5 block for the sake of your co-workers, but schedule some work time during the times of day where your brain feels most energetic. Working when it’s right for you can be the difference between flying through some email replies and staring at an empty Excel sheet for three hours.
Block Off Your Time
Put time on your calendar for you! While this isn’t a new concept, it’s something people should do more often. With Zoom meetings popping up at a moment’s notice, putting some “busy” time on your calendar can help you reclaim your day and get the actual work done. Sneaky bonus tip: mix up the time you book for yourself. People may catch onto the flexibility of a recurring meeting and bulldoze right over it. Shifting your calendar around may be enough to encourage people to find another time for that meeting that could have been an email.
Communicate Your Different Schedules
The good thing about this crazy time is everyone is in the same boat. Maybe your schedule’s different from your coworker’s because you have to pick up your kids or run to a quick appointment––it’s 2021 and people understand. Just be sure to communicate your schedule. Whether it’s in morning status meetings or changing your status on Slack, just giving your team a nod and letting them know when you will and won’t be available can really help cut down on unnecessary stress, from both parties.
While companies may be slowly returning to the office, the work from home life isn’t going anywhere. If this past year and a half has taught us anything, it’s that flexibility sparks creativity––everyone works differently and you just need to find what works for you!
// Image By Jazmin Quaynor