PLAY - It Works!

During these unprecedented times so many people are now making their homes their office. While working from home seems glamorous to many there are also adjustments you may be confronting as you face this new paradigm.  

Here are a few things that have been helpful in staying self-motivated and getting things done as I've worked from home for a number of years.  I use the acronym PLAY as a fun way to remember them:

1.  Plan your day.   At the end of every day I try to take 15-20 minutes to think through every phone call, project and task I need to accomplish the following day.  There are so many systems available to help you organize your workday.  I tend to use a hybrid of different methods that have trended throughout the years.  Here is a list of great time management options.  Being intentional with the organization of your day will lead to more productivity and focused impact.  The other important factor to keep in mind as you plan your day is family time.  I find it important to create boundaries while I am in my office, so that I am not distracted or interrupted.  However, it is equally as important to be diligent in creating times to step out of your home-work environment and interact with family.  I do this by trying to be diligent at keeping my lunch time with the family at the same time every day.  Another thing I like to do is to take 15-minute breaks throughout the day to hang out with my wife and daughters.  Doing this helps me step away from my work and press reset on my brain while giving some attention to my girls.

2.  Lose the pj's.  Act as if you are going into a physical office. This means showering, shaving, getting dressed and keeping a schedule. I have found that I'm more productive when I'm well-groomed and dressed than when I've rolled out of my bed and into my home office.  I have a friend who wears a starched dress shirt for his Zoom calls but boxer shorts or sweatpants below camera view.  I always joke with him that he is half as productive as he could be.  Even though you are not dressing up in business attire, the act of getting dressed for your workday has a psychological impact on your outlook and on your output.

3.  Air is good.  It is immensely helpful to take a walk or just go outside while I'm making calls.  [Please take precautions during this C-19 season] As I walk and take in the fresh air, I'm able to think more clearly and creatively and get some exercise in without even noticing it.  There are times that I will be on a phone call, and before I know it, I have walked four or five miles.  Consuming calories and solving problems all at the same time!

4.  You need others!  Other people are essential to your productivity, creativity and accountability.  For some, it is a challenge, especially at the beginning, to be at home with all the distractions and no one watching you.  Staying accountable to others on your team is key.  As part of a virtual team, I strive to connect as much as possible with my colleagues.  We strategically set connection times when we can talk, ask each other about our progress and encourage one another.  This takes intentionality, honesty and flexibility.  It is important not to fall in the trap of isolation and feeling like you are on an island all alone.  Sometimes it may just mean taking a few minutes and having a non-work related conversation with a colleague to break the monotony of the mundane that can emerge in a work-at-home situation.

PLAY!  It works.

#worklifebalance #homeoffice #wellbeing