Work From Home-Some Tips (Part 2)

Our thought makes a simple action more valuable. Additionally it’s our thought pattern which decides which action is easy or difficult. In this extraordinary situation we could display two kinds of mindset which is…….
Fixed Mindset: A mindset which will tempt me to be in my comfortable zone. The traditional way of working is the best and WFH is usually an unproductive and useless technique. So we still feel that this is a difficult, unproductive change forced on us.

Growth Mindset: Another mindset is if we think it’s a great technique or a helpful technique in this extraordinary situation. It’s a time to learn new skills and add on to your competencies for future. This mindset makes it comparatively less stressful to handle the situation better. easily
Hence it our choice which mindset we choose to make a smooth transition. Our positive self talk will give us more solutions to the problem.

Transition from office to WFH
Now when whole world is @ home and we are doing work from home, undoubtedly we must display huge amount of self disciple. In this blog we will follow some simple etiquette to make the transition easy for all of us.
A. Time management
To break this complete chunk of activities in small part we must divide it in three major parts:
• My schedule
• My partner’s plan
• Most importantly children’s plan of the day (depends 0-2, 3-8, above 9 years)

So the first and foremost thing is
Communication with spouse:
You must start with a detailed communication with our spouse before.
• Incase both spouse WFH:
o The beauty of working from home is that you can be flexible in setting your working hours.
o Every individual is most productive at different times of the day.
o Depending on your flexibility and your partner’s flexibility, you might consider switching to shift work. Maybe you work for four hours (uninterrupted) in the morning while your partner watches the kids, then you switch. You watch the kids in the afternoon while your partner works. Then, when the kids are in bed, you both get a little more work done.
o This is very useful if we have children (0-8 years).
o Majorly one partner will be available with the child.
o As this age group will need your presence to engage them.

• Incase only one spouse WFH
o If your spouse or partner is at home caring for the kids, it’s essential that you communicate what your day is like so you’re both on the same page with your expectations and needs.
o Both the partner has to recognize that in today’s situation even the spouse at home is also facing challenge due to absence of usual domestic help.
o It’s essential for the partner to complete few daily chores before you start the work.
o For example, if you’re under a pressing deadline and need to focus, let them know so that they can get the kids out of the house for a while. If you have a lighter workday with more flexibility, offer to take the kids for an hour at lunch so your partner can have a break
o All this will the environment positive. Absence of this step could create stress, quarrel in the family.

Note: We must understand that our spouse / children might be doing certain activities either for the first time or even out of compulsion. Hence to keep them motivated avoid……
• Micro managing w/o compromising the schedule/ list of activities
• Scope for mistake and managing the mistake
• Perfectionism

B. Effective way to make a time table
It is great to follow the same schedule of office. For ex: “Try to get up at the same time (usual time), and do all the things you would typically do to get ready for work.
 Set Multiple Alarms
o Even if you don’t have to be up as early to leave for the office, you should still set an alarm to commit to wake up at the same time.
o This will prevent you from sleeping in too late and will keep you on a healthy sleep schedule.
 Set Real Work Hours:
• Create an actual business or working hours.
• Enforce a hard limit at the end of the day.
• Avoid nonstop.
• Communicate your work schedule to co-workers, teams, and your boss.
 Have a Plan
• Making a ‘to-do list every morning is very helpful
• Do not make a very rigid time table for yourself
• While making a schedule kindly have loads of breathing time in between as we always have some miscellaneous task such as :
I. having coffee in between, eating
II. Now essentially : washing hands multiple time
 Keep a planner: It can be challenging to keep track of what you have to do throughout your workday. It’s easy to lose sight of priorities, tasks, and deadlines.
I. Start your day by reviewing priorities for the day.
II. When you make your task list, stick to it.
III. Set goals and time limits for each task.
IV. After you complete each task, cross it off the list. This simple technique is both effective and fulfilling.
V. It’s tempting to just leap into your email, but with a little extra focus,
VI. Do not make a very rigid time table for yourself
VII. Use a Planner: Make a habit of using a calendar or planner. Write down and keep track of deadlines, appointments, and meetings.
Note: However our routine could change weekly if needed. You will need time to figure out how to accommodate these changes.
C. Individual preparation: space, dressing, break time:
1. Allocate a specific space for yourself:
• Setting up first in the small corner of the house is important
• Then moving into space with a dedicated office where you could shut the door.
• Specially at the time of concall / video calls

2. Dress for Work For Home:
• As a beginner it always helps to dress more like your usual office going outfit and gradually moving to comfortable home clothing’s.
• How much it sounds funny but dressing plays a vital role in shaping your mind frame. This is the reason it’s decided.

3. Taking appropriate break even at home:
• Here we will have 2 kinds of problem…either you get too distracted by family or you get absolutely engrossed.
• In both cases its essential to have small planned breaks of 10 – 15 minutes breaks
• IMPORTANT: if you want you could plan them as coffee/ snacks break/ walking break and stretch breaks

4. Eating while you work
• Avoid unhealthy munching while working. It very harmful.
• Instead as informed use the small breaks for the same.
• Also add proper Lunch break besides the small break

5. Start and stop time
• The way evening commute is often a way to end the work day and begin home life.
• Same way it’s important to continue to make the same transition, even if you’re just moving from one spot on the couch to the other.
Tips for Work From Home:
Work from home is more than just finding the right space to help you focus, or downloading the appropriate software to do your job. Instead it also needs some work etiquette which make us more productive.
• Introducing yourself when you join a virtual meeting (telecom/ webinar)
• When asking a question / sharing thoughts, kindly use your name so that every member knows who is the person (applicable for audio conference)
• Use a notepad and pen to listen and also conveying your thoughts in short and crisp manner
• Use a weekly plan of team meeting to communicate
• Using appropriate communication tools saves time
o Email: when just need to inform
o Whatsapp/ official chat: quick discussion
o Phone: serious discussion/ decision making
• If you are addressing a team, keep presentations handy so that you could do an organized way of information sharing in less time. At the end could take a question and answer session to clarify the doubt.

Logistic Requirement
• Use the mute button is your teleconference if you’re not talking, mute.
• If you’re eating, mute. Taking an extra couple of seconds to unmute yourself during a meeting or call is better than everyone else hearing you chew food.
• Any headphones or earbuds with a quality microphone are ideal and can help things go smoothly.
• Have options for conference calls
• Test your headphones before a meeting by calling a co-worker, family member or friend.

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