But
is it time to make a change? As a time-management coach, I’ve helped
clients all over the world navigate the shift from the office to home,
and back again. What I’ve seen is that some small tweaks to your
schedule can make a big impact and could give you a fresh approach to
the new year.
Here are a few reasons why you may want to shake things up — and how to make these changes effectively.
Reason #1: You’re feeling bored with the same old, same old.
One
reason why you may need to change up your work-from-home schedule is
that nothing has changed at all in the past two-plus years, and the
monotony is getting to you. Instead of really starting work on time,
you’re logging in and then snoozing some more. You miss the social
interactions with your coworkers. And every day feels like the day
before.
If you find yourself in those WFH doldrums and it’s impacting your motivation and productivity, it’s time to switch things up.
One
of the most effective ways to do that is through a change of scenery.
I’ve seen people go to coffee shops, libraries, or even hang out by the
pool if they live in warmer climes. If you want a real office-y feel,
you could also position yourself at a co-working space. Getting out and
being around other people may add a little bit of time and distraction.
But if it overall helps you feel more energetic and motivated, then it’s
a productivity win.
If
it’s not easy to transport your work because you need multiple computer
screens or other special equipment, there are still ways that you can
infuse some variety into your routine. One could be through a virtual
coworking buddy. You could ask a coworker or friend to work alongside
you on a video call. Or you could use a service like FocusMate, which
will pair you with someone else in the world who needs to get something
done at the same time you do.
Finally,
you could add a little spice to your routine by incorporating something
new and fresh. For example, if you sign up for ClassPass, you can try
out a variety of gyms in your area. Each week could be an opportunity to
experience something new. Or you could search MeetUp.com for events
happening in your area. Sometimes having something to look forward to in
the evening hours can make you much more focused in the daytime hours.
Clients I’ve worked with have also said that being in a setting where it
would be rude to be on their phones also helps their minds really shut
off from work.
Reason #2: Your household routines have changed.
Another
reason to adjust your work-from-home schedule is to account for shifts
that may have happened not to you, but around you. For example, maybe
your spouse has gone back to the office, so they’re gone most of the
day, or your kids have changed schools so the pick-up and drop-off times
are different, or you got a puppy and now you need to fit walks into
your schedule.
These
changes in your environment matter and mean you need to think carefully
about all the parts of your day. For example, should you adjust your
start time to later or earlier? Do you need to look into carpooling help
for school or sports? Does your exercise schedule need modifications?
Acknowledge how the changes in your household routine give you more or less time, and then reset your expectations accordingly.
Reason #3: You want to establish healthier habits.
For
some the shift to work-from-home bumped up their self-care because they
repurposed their commute time to enjoy more sleep in the morning or to
fit in some evening walks. But for others not going into the office took
a toll on their healthy habits, leading to not having a defined stop
time so they worked later and then went to sleep later. Others also
ditched their exercise routine when they stopped going to the gym at
work and never regained momentum. And still others may have traded the
salad bar in the office cafeteria for DoorDash and found that even their
stretchy pants no longer fit.
If
this sounds a bit like you, it’s time to tweak your schedule to better
support your health needs. Some potential solutions include giving
yourself firmer start and end times so that you have time in the evening
to wind down and get to sleep at a decent hour. If you want more
flexibility than a set schedule but also want to have clarity on when
you’ve “done enough” for the day, another approach is to count out work
blocks that you complete, aiming for eight or nine hour-long blocks.
Once you’ve put in your hours whether that puts you at 4 PM, 6 PM, or 8
PM, give yourself permission to stop guilt-free.
To
begin to fold back in physical movement, you can start small. Some of
the people I work with will begin with even 10 minutes of exercise a day
that they can do from home. Apps like Sworkit can give you short
routines and you can find a plethora of free videos on YouTube. Another
strategy is to do short five-minute walks as breaks instead of checking
your phone. It takes about the same amount of time and improves your
health and focus instead of detracting from them.
Finally,
if you’ve struggled with nutrition since working from home, you may
need to incorporate in a time on the weekends or a week night to pick up
or order groceries. Most grocery stores do have premade salads and
quick meals that are less expensive and often healthier than takeout.
You can also pick up apples, bananas, baby carrots, and other quick and
easy snacks to encourage nutritious eating.
. . .
Just
because your work-from-home schedule isn’t terrible, doesn’t mean that
it couldn’t be better. Use these strategies if you need a new
relationship with your remote work schedule in the new year.
Was this article helpful? Connect with me.
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