Working from home feels like a blessing in disguise. I mean here we are, finally, with the opportunity to do what we want, however we want to do it without any form of supervision monitoring us. This is what we’ve always wanted, right? We finally get rid of those annoying, nosy, and lazy coworkers. We’re free to blast our music, take extended breaks, spend half of the day on the phone, sleep in late, and do as we please. What could possibly go wrong?
Well, I’m sorry to be burst everyone’s bubble with the facts but working from the comfort of your own home requires a certain level of discipline and alertness. Believe it or not it also requires a greater deal of work than expected. We’re free from our superiors but what about our pets, and children, and significant other? What about our siblings (if you still live at home with your parents). More importantly, what about our coworkers? Whether we like them or not, we’re used to daily face to face contact with them; walking over to their office or calling their extension when we need something. Our office routine has been cut off abruptly and if we’re not careful our new routine can begin feeling overwhelming. What if our supervisors call random Zoom meetings throughout the day, and our coworkers call our personal phones (or work cells) at their leisure? That alone can prove to be stressful, add a personal obligation to the list and we’re ready to go over the edge. Imagine random meetings and calls throughout the day while homeschooling our children, and trying to get out work done? So how do we remedy the situation?
The answer is simple, we establish boundaries! I’ve included 4 tips to help you reclaim your sanity and enjoy your time working at home, whether its temporary or your new normal.
Boundary #1- You have a schedule when you’re at work therefore you should have a schedule when you work from home. Make a habit of setting your hours of availability. Now, in order for people to take seriously you have to stick to your own rule. If you’re on duty between 9 am and 5 pm then you should avoid responding to any emails or requests to complete assignments before 9 and after 5. Of course there are exceptions to every rule (i.e you are the supervisor and your staff are calling out for the day), but as a general rule of thumb stick to the script!
Boundary #2- What is your preferred method of contact? Will you primarily communicate via email? text?work cell? or personal phone? Before you decide utilize your personal phone, you should take the time to consider how comfortable you’ll be with everyone having your personal phone number, even after society begins to resume all activities. In my line of work, it is unsafe to hand out my personal number so email is the best method of communication for any staff who has not been assigned a work cell phone. Once you determine your preferred method of contact, remain consistent. If you receive a text on your work cell, don’t reply on your personal cell (and vice versa). Consistency is key to establishing boundaries!
Boundary 3- Email etiquette! Working from home shifts our mindsets and we tend to get comfortable with our responses. Remember to continue responding to all emails in a professional manner. As tempting as it may be, if you didn’t use “Hey Girl” as a greeting previously then you should not use it now. You should continue including your signature at the conclusion of your emails with your availability and preferred contact method listed. (This will reinforce Boundaries #1 and #2). Lastly, refrain from engaging in tit for tat. People are a bit more stressed and a bit more comfortable than usual and are more liable to get out of line. Misery loves company and this is not the time to join in on the pettiness.
Boundary #4- Designate an area in your home for work purposes only. This doesn’t need to be an entire room, especially if you’re limited on space. This can be an unused corner or section of your hallway. It can even be a particular chair in your living room that you barely use. Use this area whenever you’re working, even if you’re just talking on the phone. Designating a workspace mentally aides in helping you get focused. It also gives you an opportunity to separate from your work when you’re off duty. Best of all, hopefully (fingers crossed) no one else will use it.
Feeling burned out or overwhelmed isn’t always obvious. For most people it tends to creep up unnoticed. It is not until you feel burned out that you realize that the things that you once did as a favor, or out of the kindness of your heart now leave you feeling drained and annoyed. Setting the tone from day one is a good method of prevention. If you happen to be past day one, its never too late to start. You will have to put a little more effort into remaining consistent in order to reprogram your coworkers into adapting, but it will be well worth the effort in the long run.
We’d love to connect with you on Social Media
© The Career Conqueror®, 2019. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to The Career Conqueror® with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.