Working from home - What I have learnt.

IN THE BEGINNING

I had left the corporate working environment a few years prior, picked up a few clients and found myself working from home and myself, 4 days a week, for the first time in my life. At first, I found this very challenging, but along the way I learnt new ways of working; strategies for managing my time; and I readjusted my own expectations of my working self.

Working from home (WFH) can be a daunting experience and isolating at times. It can be challenging to maintain your momentum and stay motivated. It can also be hard to navigate the work life balance, as you draw the lines between your personal and home life and your workspace and work hours. 

Are you feeling a bit shaken, maybe stirred, maybe fearful and doubtful and completely utterly, wildly terrified? Good...keep going.

Victoria Erickson

My WFH experience started in 2016. I had worked from home previously, but only for a day at a time – and very occasionally. This was very different. One of my clients was a Credit Union based on the mid north coast of NSW. I was engaged to work 2 days per week remotely from my home. During this 2-year period, I had a total of 4 face-to-face meetings. At the same time, I also worked 2 days per week with another client, however I visited them every few weeks for an onsite meeting.

For those who know me, they know that I love to have a chat and socialise with people. This was a huge change for me. I was in uncharted territory now. 

GETTING STARTED

I started working out of our small sun-room. We had only just moved in our house 6 months prior and this room was affectionately known as ‘the dumping ground’. The place where we dumped everything that didn’t have a home…which is a lot when you have a husband, two kids and a dog. We cleared some space and created a makeshift desk, cutting an old desk down with a saw until it fitted into the space.

Getting started is the hardest part. I ‘borrowed’ a good chair from my parents, which I still have. I set up another screen for my laptop and picked up some free shelves from Facebook. Wrapped in a blanket I was now good to go and so it began. 

LESSON #1

Get comfy! Invest in your space. Be resourceful and remember it doesn’t have to be new. You can improve it over time.  

DEFINING A NEW ROUTINE

Maintaining a good routine is really important – I set an alarm, get dressed and eat breakfast every day. I always aim to start my day at the same time each day…just like getting on that bus to work! I also invested in a N espresso machine – who can start the day without a coffee? Not me! 

LESSON #2

Your WFH routine does not need to mirror your corporate office experience. It took me a long time to work this one out. I always felt guilty for not sitting at my desk for 8 hours. What if someone tried to contact me and found out that I was up the road having a coffee? 

When we work in an office environment, we socialise with others, we stand up, move around, move to meeting rooms, we gather and we move away from our desk for lunch, coffee and regular breaks. Most of these things are missing from the equation when we work from home, so we need to introduce them in other ways.

I have learnt to break my day into blocks of time. I place these around other activities – which include exercise, domestic chores, kids activities and socialising/networking. I arrange these around my work commitments and meetings, to ensure I don’t miss anything important. This also helps me draw the lines between my personal and work life to ensure it is balanced.

I often start my day earlier and take a bigger break in the middle of the day. I go for bush walks to clear my head – it’s when I come up with my best ideas. I hang out a load of washing to stretch my legs and pick up groceries on my lunch breaks. If I picked up the kids up from school, I would log back in after they went to bed.

My work commitments have allowed for this and nobody minded, so long as I delivered on my projects and was available for meetings. Technology has also been a great enabler, ensuring we are always connected.

It took me a little while to find my rhythm, but once I found it, I started to really enjoy working from home. I was now motivated and active. 

LOOK AFTER YOURSELF

Shifting away from working in a corporate environment, close to lots of food options and amenities was hard. Initially I didn’t prepare myself for eating lunch at home and I didn’t prioritise my health. Within 6 months I had put on weight and wasn’t eating properly. I wanted to impress my new clients and prove my worth, but this was at my own expense.

Our mental well being is so important and directly related to how we feel. I decided to join a gym and committed myself to a weekly routine which included regular walks. I signed up to a food delivery service and created a weekly food diary. It was the best thing I did for myself. 

LESSON #3

Schedule time to eat and exercise in your diary – do it today!

CREATING NEW HABITS

Ticking things off a list, has always felt great. I would share this list with my clients, so they knew what I was working on and keep them updated on my progress. Being open and transparent helps establish trust – they knew what I was working on and trusted me to deliver on my promises. 

LESSON #4

Create a ‘To Do’ list. This helped keep me accountable and on track with my projects. 

I always maintained regular conversations with my clients which helps keep me motivated. It’s really easy when you are by yourself to procrastinate and get distracted.

When face-to-face wasn’t an option, a simple phone call and conversation would always help get me back on track. 

LESSON #5

Open communication fuels momentum and builds trust.

With these lessons learnt, new habits formed and a new routine defined, my working from home has become a rewarding experience. It continues to evolve and my workspace is constantly getting better.

With advances in technology and more companies supporting WFH now, it will only get easier and become more socially accepted.

Each of our experiences and circumstances will be different. The key is to find your own work-life balance that supports your needs and your well-being.