(And how to get stuff done regardless)
When practically everyone we know started working from home in 2020, there was a brief moment in time where I felt like one of the lucky ones.
After all, I’d been doing it for nearly half my career, and I didn’t now need to adjust to an entirely new way of doing things, trying to navigate the pandemic at the same time.
What soon started to come up in our weekly friends & family Zoom chats ran along the lines of “I’ve been envying you for years, why haven’t you ever told me working from home actually sucks?”.
The truth is it doesn’t have to suck, but it’s entirely up to you. Let me give you a glimpse into one of my WFH days, and offer some insider tips on how to combat the distractions and the disarray.
WFH is, in fact, working
When I first started working from home (i.e. when I found my first 100% remote job), friends were genuinely worried about my state of employment. Everybody thought it was some sort of downgrade, or a temporary setup, or that I was working part time, or just a couple of hours a day.
When I started my own business from home, they sort of cottoned on, thinking I didn’t want the expense of business premises (which was true, but not the main reason why I chose to wrf).
Luckily, I’ve only ever had to explain to people in my own circle what working from home was about, and I never had to prove to an employer that I was indeed working.
I feel 2020 has changed everyone’s views on the practice, and that you will no longer have to explain to a family member why you can’t just run out and pick up their parcel in the middle of the workday, seeing as you’re working from home.
Setting boundaries does help though, so muting all the private ways people can contact you (having a work phone and work chat apps, as opposed to using Zoom and your private number for both) does help a lot. Or just don’t pick up.
Having the kids right there is not helpful
I’ve recently heard Lily Pebbles talk about this, so full credit to her, I wouldn’t have remembered to mention this otherwise.
You may mistakenly believe that the fact you are at home, and the kids are at home, and the dogs and the cat are at home, will make things easier. In fact, they will make things harder.
There will only be about 42 minutes in a day when everyone is focused on something that does not require your attention.
This means that you will either never really be able to focus on your work (or anything else), or you’ll figure out a way to separate work from home. If not physically, then mentally and temporally.
Lock the door, for heaven’s sake
If you can though, start by an actual physical separation. Everything will naturally depend on the age of your kids and their number, as well as your job.
During lockdown, when we were all home all the time, James and I used to alternate work/kids every two hours. I’d get up at 5-ish and start working, then he’d get up at 7 with the girls, but he’d go straight for the computer, and I’d go to make breakfast and prep homeschool. We’d alternate throughout the day, especially since we only had two laptops, and one was needed for homeschooling.
When things do go back to normal and the kids start kindergarten or school again regularly, it will get a lot easier, I promise. Just make a point of working when they are away, and leave everything house-related for when they come back.
If you are not alone in your home, but need some real privacy, either do really lock the door, or come up with a signal. I used to hang a Do not disturb sign on our bedroom door if I was having a call. And if I happened to be working from the kitchen, I’d put on a cowboy hat (don’t even ask) every time I needed short bursts of uninterrupted focus.
One diary to rule them all
Writing things down also makes the most difference. I used to have two different diaries and to do lists for work/home, but only when I merged them into one did things actually start working out for the better.
Personally, I use to do lists and I color code my tasks. I also use a physical notebook, but James and I (and the girls) also share a Google calendar. It helps us keep each other informed, especially about school stuff, the kids social life, and any errands that need running.
You can of course do time blocking, scheduling, productivity apps – whatever works for you personally.
We also have a master list of “sort this out”, off of which we randomly grab stuff when we have a moment, or feel like tackling one of the items. It’s mostly stuff like “wash the car”, “change the sheets” or “don’t forget about the broccoli”.
And before you ask, no, we don’t keep track of who does more of the “sort this out” tasks.
You can multitask, but on your own terms
Another myth about working from home is that you can get everything done.
The actual truth is that what you get, in terms of time to get things done, is the time it would usually take to get to the office. So, getting ready in the morning for the office – getting ready for working from home + getting to the actual office = is all the time you are blessed with when working from home.
If you are also more productive from home (which we’ll get into in a minute), then there is time for more of life and chores in your day.
That does not however mean that you’ve magically sprouted an extra set of hands overnight. Nor that you can work and cook at the same time.
For me, multitasking works only when I get to start one thing, put it down, do another thing, put it down, go back to the first thing, et cetera. You’ll now say that this is not multitasking. And I agree. But that’s the way I get things done most efficiently.
For example, while I’m writing this, the washer is doing a load. In a couple of minutes, it’ll start beeping, at which point I’ll get up and go shut it up. I’ll then come back to write. When my focus really starts to wander, or when I just need to get up, I’ll go and do the dishes. You get the idea.
Netflix is indeed the devil
The worst thing about working from home is without a doubt the TV. And the fact that you can spend an hour on social media without anyone being any the wiser.
The only piece of advice I can offer is lock the remote. And the Playstation controllers.
If you are the kind of person who has the mental energy and willpower to stop yourself from watching Bridgerton or Anne with an E or Sugar Rush in the middle of your workday, then you need no advice from me.
If you are more like me, and will just watch a little bit on your break, lock the remote.
You need a change of scenery
Speaking of productivity, I find that mine is heightened when I don’t keep staring at the exact same thing all day. I move my laptop around a lot, and try to work from different rooms. I used to have my calls exclusively in the kitchen (that stopped when the pandemic started), and I used to write from my desk.
Not to mention I also used to go out to the park or to a coffee place to work.
As that is not actually possible at the moment, try to just move around your home – but never work from your bed. That’s just counterproductive, and will seriously impact your ability to fall asleep at night.
Get out of the house as often as you can too, even if it’s just to stand in front of your apartment and watch people go by for ten minutes. It will help clear your head.
Wearing makeup can change everything
Finally, let’s talk about getting dressed.
When you first start working from home, you’ll love the freedom of working in your pajamas. And it’s great, enjoy the feeling while it lasts.
But as soon as you start feeling a bit sluggish, put a pair of less comfortable pants on, iron a shirt for yourself, do your hair, and put some makeup on. Not sure if it’s the ritual of the thing and just a series of tasks our brain naturally associates with going to work, or does looking better and feeling more put together actually impact the way we work.
I do know it does work though.
Having said that, I have not worn makeup once this year. Which is a complete shame, because I used to love doing it in the mornings. Or the evenings. So, let’s consider this a bit of a promise to myself, and my honest effort to get back into the habits that once gave me so much joy.
The reality of working from home
Wait a minute.
What about the glimpse into my working from home day?
Well, today started at 5AM, when I woke up for no apparent reason, and decided I was indeed going to get out of bed. I had a workout, breakfast, and took the dogs out. The girls and James woke up around 6.30AM, when I had a bit more breakfast (technically half a pancake), and we all took turns in the bathroom.
My sister is staying, so she spent all the morning with the girls in homeschool, while I worked. James is back in the office, so we had a late lunch (which my sister cooked), and I stayed at my desk until 3PM (with the cat on my lap between 1.30PM and 2.30PM). I then decided to call it a day, and we’ve spent the rest of the afternoon making bunnies and chicks for Easter weekend.
Sounds a bit too organized and pleasant? Oh, you thought I was going to say it wasn’t?
Sorry to disappoint, but even when it’s just the four + three of us, working from home is the best decision I’ve ever made, and I wouldn’t badmouth it for the world. Even on the days I only cross out half of my list.
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