Quarantine work, how not to go crazy!
Farid Singh
VP Products | INSEAD | VC | Innovation | Edge, Private Networks & 5G | Cybersecurity | Deeptech Startups | ?? Bringing Technology, Business and Creativity together!
After my previous article Stage of Lockdown, 3 weeks into the lockdown/isolation/quarantine/prison, here are some real tips on how to work and not kill yourself. These are from a person who lives on their own, and so doesn't have the family, kids viewpoint yet! Your mileage may differ.
?? Let people know in meeting requests if it is video or audio only meeting
?? You can have 10, 15 and 20 mins meetings instead of the standard 30 and 60mins one
?? Don’t work from 1 place. Have 2-3 different work station locations. I list these meeting rooms in my invites with a D, B or C to let me know where to take them. I hover between the desk, couch where I can stretch legs and the balcony
?? Restrict work hours. Select how much video time you want per day (I limit to 2.5hrs) and Audio to 4 hours max (including the 2.5hrs video). I spend the rest on emails, and ACTUAL work
?? Get up early and just do something besides work , social media or chores. Go sit in the balcony, walk the dog, play with the kids or sit out and drink coffee. I find my 2.5 hours in the morning 7am-9:30am are the most amazing and creative.
?? Use the pommodoro technique to take sufficient breaks with screen time. I use the laptop technique. I use the laptop only on battery. When it dies, I turn it off and let it charge, and then use it once fully charged
?? Fluid up. Drink lots of fluids. Water, tea and coffee. I am currently trying various flavored teas.
?? Set times when you are available to people on channels like slack, chat and messenger. If it is important, ask them to call, yes call
?? Spend time resting. Your brain uses a lot of horse power with the screen on, and you need to take breaks. I do take power naps as these work for me.
?? Needless to say, take Vitamin C, B and D where possible. Your body is starving of things that give you vitamins, thanks to lock downs.
?? Do something new! For me, it is setting up a channel where I review Estonian foods I buy from the super market!
Share your practices in the comments!
CEO @ Omaxx SC Limited | PhD Candidate in Business Administration
6 个月Farid, insightful points! At Omaxx, we value thoughtful discussions like this. Thanks for sharing your perspective!
Award-Winning Marketer | Global Head of Ecosystem Marketing @ Atlassian | Ex-Salesforce | Ex-Intel
4 年Movement daily is a big thing for my sanity - I try to get outside at least 1x a day and get some form of physical exercise in!
Associate Partner | Business Transformation, Business Strategy, Growth Strategies
4 年Some great suggestions: especially about taking time out of the virtual world and into the physical one. I am finding being in nature daily is restorative - nature hasn't missed a beat - perhaps there is a lesson there for us. The other thing I'm enjoying is more random conversations with people I actively choose to talk to. Kindness and empathy shared has been repaid in joy and happiness returned. Finally I am enjoying just being able to be rather than do. There is power in silence.