We are back at work at home and learning "where possible". Classes and university are taking place online, home office is back for many. This article provides experiences from the first phase and helpful tips. And above all, let me know what you think!
- A beautiful, tidy workplace that suits you
Do you have your own desk? Can you repurpose a table? Do you sit well there, is it (reasonably) quiet? Or do you like to communicate with others while you work anyway? Do you have good lighting? Is your chair comfortable (for several hours)? Do you work well sitting down, are you otherwise more on the move when working? And: do you even have enough space for working? Or is your desk full of sticky notes, bills, study materials? Or is it full of things that have nothing to do with your work/learning?
When you attend video conferences: What do the other participants see, is the section appropriate for you? Would you perhaps like to put down a poster or would you like to make the statement anyway?
All in all: your working environment has a strong impact on your work performance and ability to concentrate.
2. Schedule and breaks
If private space and work mix, this has consequences. It is (even) more difficult to distinguish between the different areas and draw boundaries. For example, do you eat while you work? When do you take breaks? When are you available (to whom)?
Try to set up fixed working hours, reserve time for breaks, don't eat at the working desk (or at least close your laptop), maybe plan time for a walk. Don't forget to include things in your day that are fun and enjoyable. Also bear in mind that the stores now close at 19:00 and adjust your working hours accordingly.
3. Stay in the loop
Do you need any documents from the office? How can you store them appropriately at home (and above all safely, if they are sensitive)? Does it make sense for you to continue going to work once or twice a week, is that possible?
(Continue to) talk to your colleagues, ask them how they are doing, exchange ideas. Try to continue your usual routines as best you can. Maybe have a virtual coffee/tea together. During the first lockdown in particular, I found that I hardly noticed the little things that make everyday working life a little more relaxed. No nice stories, no colleagues stopping by for a quick chat. And also: important information that you learn in passing doesn't get through at all, so you have to ask. What is needed here new structures and your active initiative to keep them going.
4. Talk to family members and flatemates, share responsibilities
Are you living on your own or with family, roommates? Do you have childcare obligations? Can you/would you like to make use of emergency childcare at kindergarten/school or at least to a lesser extent? Is there another, better solution? Which rooms are needed and when? Are there children in homeschooling or roommates in virtual courses that you have to take into consideration?
Look into a solution for a schedule to use your rooms. Talk about (child) care. Who can keep an eye on older kids doing home school classes and who needs to work quietly or who may not be disturbed during their video call?
Hier stellen sich viele Herausforderungen und sind Interessen und Bedenken abzuwägen. Versucht, dass alle Interessen gehört und berücksichtigt werden. Und wenn möglich: hol dir Hilfe, und trau dich die Notbetreuung in der Schule/im Kindergarten (tageweise) in Anspruch zu nehmen. Gerade Alleinerziehende stehen hier noch mehr als sonst vor großen Herausforderungen.
5. Look for the positive
Apart from all these hints and questions here: try to find the positive in all this. Vielleicht ist jetzt gerade die Gelegenheit ruhiger arbeiten zu können, weniger Telefonanrufe am Tag zu haben, einen Artikel fertig zu bekommen, Sachen die im Trubel liegen bleiben abzuschließen, ein selbstgewähltes Arbeitsumfeld zu haben.
I am currently doing a lot of webinars and have the mix of structure (time and framework is given), people with whom I can interact (if it is done well), and the possibility to take a short break at any time, get something to eat and choose a comfortable working and sitting position.
You probably also have more challenges now, be it having far less social contact, caring responsibilities, continuing to go to work and feeling insecure, no longer being allowed to work at all and much more. But perhaps some things have also changed that didn't work so well for you before. Or you may even find the opportunity to reorganize yourself. Adjusting to the new situation can also be an excellent opportunity to find new ways of working and living with the help of the KonMari® method , to find a more joyful working & learning environment for you.
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