Many of us are now working in a new environment, our home office. There are a lot of great articles being shared on creating our new workspace and telecommuting. The tips range from having a dedicated workspace, structuring your day with office hours, scheduling breaks, remembering to eat, and making sure that your technology is up to date and working properly. All of these are important to set yourself up for success.
I would like to share three additional tips that the Jennifer Maxson & Associates team has been practicing:
- Communicate. Many of you may be wondering, why I have added this tip. Of course, you are communicating, with your team, your manager/leader, and your customers. We want to encourage you to communicate with those sharing your space. Have you communicated to your roommate, partner, family, children? Consider creating an alliance on how everyone will “be” in this space. Set or reset expectations on work hours, locations, internet usage, distractions and consider setting a lunch time when everyone comes together. When everyone is clear on the alliance, you can hold each other accountable and we all can be successful together.
- Movement. Get up and move around your space. Movement creates energy and this will reduce stress and fatigue. Consider going for a walk in or outside of your home. Use your phone to record a voice memo while you are walking. When you get out of your chair, take a few minutes to stretch. If you are missing your bulletin or white board, consider hanging large pieces of paper, this will give you a chance to get up and move while documenting key ideas. Movement allows energy to move through your body, gives you an opportunity to re-energize and recharge.
- Connection. Many of us miss the casual conversation we had in our traditional office environment. In our new environment everything feels scheduled in 30-minute blocks of time on our calendars. Find a platform that works for you and your team to share quick thoughts and spark a connection. If you need to talk with someone make the phone call or open a video chat.
Finally, let’s not forget about our pets. Consider creating a space for your pet in your new workspace. If you pet makes an appearance in a video chat, don’t sweat it, just go with it. Most of us will enjoy seeing your pet, it may spark fun and casual conversation.
In this new work environment remember to communicate and create an alliance, find a way to add movement to your day, and connect with your team. Set yourself up for success and Lead to the Max!SM
Written By: Jennifer Maxson