This Time, It's Different

Like many of us, I’m no stranger to teleworking. I’ve been telecommuting on Fridays for about a year. When I worked for a decentralized, multinational corporation, my home was my office and I rarely met people face-to-face—my manager included! In the advertising world, where I spent the better part of my career, the clock never stopped; 3am emails (and responses) were the norm.

So, what’s different this time?

Besides the obvious “circumstance” (I can’t recall a similar situation), there is a symphony (cacophony?) of sounds alerting me to something… anything…and everything! Rings tell me “you’ve got mail.” Soft voices alert me that “someone has joined the conference.” A xylophone-like tone reminds me I’m late for a meeting. And, beeps tell me someone wants to talk to me now – via Skype. Add to that, the jarring ring from my laptop turned telephone and that’s a lot of music! 

I’m feeling a little like Pavlov’s dog. “Ring Ring,” check my email fast. “Beep Beep,” who’s Skyping me? The first Skype is quickly followed by another – either by the same person or someone else. Can’t they see I’m busy? 

The sounds aren’t new. We’ve all heard them many times before. But what’s different is this. With so many people working from home (WFH), the ringing, beeping, chiming and melodies – from personal and business devices, especially early morning – have come at an escalating pace. Have you noticed that too?  

Now in month 3, I’ve figured out how to turn off the symphony – or at least better manage it—so I’m able to tackle the business of the day more quickly and with greater focus. I’ve also settled into a daily routine that has worked well in the past. I’m not one for long lists, yet here are a few secrets that have helped me:

• Create a Separate Space for Working. My home work area is separate from where I live. While I have an office, that’s my space. So, I convert my kitchen table to my desk each day. It has a nice view, especially on bright sunny days. It’s close to the coffee. And, I can listen to (or watch) the news in the background. At the end of the work day, I close up shop. Laptop closed and put away until my next “commute.” I like it that way. 
• Never Go to Work in Your Pajamas! We are involved in serious business, so I make sure to dress for the day. Sure I wear comfy clothes, but I want to be sure I’m dressed appropriately if a last minute video call or social Zoom get-together is scheduled. It also helps create a routine, which is important to me.
• Keep Regular Business Hours. When I am WFH, I generally start early – between 7am to 7:30am. The funny thing is, starting earlier doesn’t mean ending earlier. However, it makes me more productive and gives me a chance to break up the day with a quick walk or lunch out of the home office. What’s different this time is I’ve noticed many more people starting their day early too, so I’m losing some of that precious “quiet time.”
• Get Up and Get Out of the House! This is a tough one for me. I’m so comfortable in my surroundings that I get lost in thought. In fact, one day while WFH for another firm, I checked by iPhone Health app and logged just 37 steps. And, that was at 5pm. Yikes! That was my cue to get up and get out – at least for a little while. I try to make a point of it every day, but admittedly, I need help in that area.

We all continue to adapt in the wake the many personal and professional challenges. It’s not easy, yet I’m confident, like generations before us in the face of extraordinary challenges, we’ll get through this. We’re keeping the lines of communication open. Virtual meetings, quick Skype chats or traditional one-on-one telephone conversations do wonders to inform and inspire. Our teams also have made a point to keep the “human” touch in our daily work despite social distancing. We LOL via Skype! Staying in touch virtually, in spite of the symphony of sounds that go along with it, is critical to our collective success. 

P.S. For the music lovers among us, which one do you prefer? Windows or iPhone?