My Home Is My Office & My Castle #COVID19

Haven’t had the chance to reach out for a while but since I am also working from home and now I have some extra time to read, write and even paint, sometimes I even sing — none of those are my passions but you never know - things change. So this piece won't focus on the reasons why everyone will be working from home and how dangerous is the virus because first I'm not an expert and secondly very rarely we need to obey to those who would like to protect you. I wish everyone affected by the virus speedy recovery and to the rest - stay home. Today, yesterday and even tomorrow the world we knew is gone and now is different and it took us exactly couple of weeks to experience something we never thought could happen. Companies, governments and the way we all do business will have to change fast but employees should be even faster otherwise they will be job market for long. I would like to begin with the benefits from this corona madness (I will not focus on the COVID-19 as we all watch the news all day long).

In order to continue our life companies started going digital overnight, they started closing down offices and sending employees working from home or some just to stay home. Not really a new trend but the fast change and the overnight transformation maybe will change the perspective to many of us. Let’s talk about what are the benefits for those that are facing this change for first time.

No morning commute to work, no stressful rushing to get on time and stress. Now you have enough time to wake up, drink coffee and enjoy quiet busy day at home, as long as you don’t have kids, but we will discuss this matter further down. You can cook, eat, go to your own bathroom for as long as you want, no need to argue with your teammates about the AC — “your home, your castle”

Working from home sounds like a dream, until you realize that you started work harder, as long as you don’t want to be without a job very soon. It’s strange, you think you will trade a commute for more time to yourself or with your family but what happens more often is that you just clock on earlier and work later than you ever did before (not everybody of course).

But perhaps one of the most insidious effects of working from home is thinking that because you’re at home, in your fluffy slippers, enjoying a cup of your favorite tea/coffee, that somehow you’re not really working hard enough. It’s not true of course, but you start to feel it, and no matter how much you do, you still feel slightly guilty. I have learned you have to work very hard to make sure you don’t get in your own head and make the experience negative. How to do that? Here are my thoughts based on several-in home and decent understanding on adapting to changing environment.

Most likely the first couple of days you will go through the so called "vacation mode", but keep in mind that besides the deadly virus spreading around — it’s also coming a serious recession so if you are planning to stay unemployed you could extend your “vacation mode” as long as you want and wait for the day that your boss will ask you to take indefinite vacation.

This article is for the people that don’t mind working and adapting to changes — the ones that are making difference and are accepting this challenge as an opportunity. So what to do?

Wake up the same time you are up for work, make a nice cup of coffee/tea, quick breakfast and open some sort of planner (piece of paper, to-do list, fancy app or whiteboard). Just sit, write down and set goals for the day, for the next day, for the week, for the next two weeks — be specific as possible. Draw your big picture, goals, the steps to achieve them and just be the change that we all need right now. Write down everything you would like to accomplish, visualize it and just start making some progress when everyone else is panicking. Tick those “to-do’s” and get over excited that you are at home and that this will be a great mix between some “me” time and working from your cozy home. Of course if this is your first time being remote for long period — relying on your old habits from the office wouldn’t help here — you would need to be more organized and focused. Do more, take the extra mile. World is different and is changing as you read now and if you would like to make it big through this you would need to be different and to be ready for the CHANGE.

Interact with others from distance but don’t isolate. Get on your company chats, have conversations, catch up on gossip, chew over the latest progress on your project, share successes, commiserate. In short, do all the things you would do if you were physically in the office with your colleagues. Get to know the technology and the tools you will be using so you could be productive and more organized. Be creative and give ideas to your team how you could all go through this and support each other. Check in with your boss. Make sure he/she knows what you’re up to and even ask what he/she is up to. Ask for advice, as we are all learning and need to brainstorm how to keep our businesses and jobs. Waiting is not your right tool, waiting could only waste your chances.

Make yourself a cozy place where you could work, isolate and be productive. Nice desk, comfortable chair, your computer and all the things you need to do your job. Don’t dress as for your cousin’s wedding but dress for success. It will give you an extra boost to your mood and will remind you that you are working and not walking around your slippers.

TIME MANAGEMENT. Demand for morning meetings (i know wtf likes them) so you could exchange thoughts with your peers and feel like you are already working, 10am–11am check the media so you know how the world is doing and the business as well, also those will be your ice-breakers later on during the day and have actual topics to discuss. Time is crucial when you are working from home, if you are not organized and don’t have an idea what to do or waiting for someone to call and give you a task — CHANGE IT!

Be proactive and creative. Don’t explain how busy you feel, but check what you achieved during the day. Don't complaint later you didn't get the promotion or worry if they let you go. Tough times requires tough work and superhero employees . There are plenty of apps that can manage your time or just set reminders on your calendar/phone. Take short breaks, nice lunch and eat healthy — at some point the isolation will end and people would probably see that you gained extra. Eat good — feel good. Have enough energy and take regular breaks, even do some home exercises at home. Drink a lot of water and have always something to do.

Run your plans/decisions by your supervisors because pretending to be busy and being productive are two different things. Ask them for clear goals, tasks and even offer your help to them. In times like that team effort creates new special bonds for the employees and it's turning them into leaders. Listen music that will help you to focus and do your job. Do more than when you were at the office. Don’t make assumptions what everyone else is doing and don’t leave your tasks for the next day. Don’t think what the others will think or say —  BE ON POINT!

NO INTRUDERS: Kids, spouses, grandmas and etc should be well informed that this is your job and they need to respect your privacy and space to work in your working hours. Of course get a lunch with them, play in the afternoon but always complete your tasks and be on time — don’t wait. Reach out to all your colleagues, partners, customers, friends and etc and always ask how is everything, we all go through tough times in a different way and compassion is always a sign of good manners and humanity. Tell someone you know that you care and tell the ones next to you that you love them! PEACE

#StayHome #HelpOthers #HelpYourself #HomeOffice #MyHomeMyOfficeMyCastle