FINDING A NEW NORMAL
Work habits need tweaks at home
It’s been three years since political analyst Robert Kelly appeared on BBC World News to talk about South Korea’s president being ousted from power. He and his family became an overnight sensation after his two toddlers and wife hilariously crashed the interview from his home office — all while he somehow managed to keep a straight face.
It’s a scene a growing number of people can relate to as they hunker down in makeshift home offices to help combat the spread of COVID-19. If you haven’t worked from home until now, it will take some getting used to. Even if you are accustomed to working from home, having kids underfoot certainly changes the dynamic.
“This is a massive work-life redesign,” says Clare Kumar, a consultant and coach who helps busy professionals optimize their performance.
Kumar recommends adopting the mindset that you want everyone in your home to thrive and do a needs assessment that takes each person’s needs and capabilities into account.
“What does seven-year-old Johnny need to have his day work? What does my two-year-old toddler need? What do I need and what are my commitments?”
Next, look at the spaces that need to support the activities your family remains committed to during this period of social isolation.
“There are a variety of workspaces within the home that can work that are already obvious,” Kumar says. “If you have a home office — kudos. You need to ensure it will no longer be a clutter zone for everybody’s stuff but a functional home office. Look perhaps at how to get another desk or work surface in there to amplify the capacity of that space. Look at kitchen counters and the dining room and kitchen tables as standing workspaces.”
When scouting out potential workspaces, Kumar recommends places that allow you to adopt three postures — standing, sitting and reclining — throughout your workday.
“Reclining is wonderful when you’re consuming material. If you’re in creation mode and need a couple of screens, you should be at a computer workstation with a full ergonomic setup,” she says.
“If you’re doing a video call, stand at a desk and you can present really well. It’s about marrying the task with the right kind of environment and that matrix of who needs what on your home team.”
Kumar has seen lots of creative solutions, including a shelf that attaches to a window using suction cups. Voila! You have a standing desk at your condo window.
When it comes to productivity, it’s important to understand the tasks at hand so you can marry what you know you need to do with both your schedule and the workspaces you’ve identified. Make sure you fully understand what your boss wants.
“Otherwise, you’re going to start procrastinating,” Kumar says.
Armed with an understanding of what everybody in your family needs in order to thrive, coupled with the workspaces available in your home, create a schedule.
“Maybe you need two hours of video conferencing with your team without interruptions, which will require some negotiation with the other people who can manage the children. Depending on their ages, maybe you’ll need to plan activities in advance for the kids.”
Share that schedule with your family, whether you post it on the fridge or place a cue on your office door. A stop sign means “don’t come in unless it’s an emergency,” while a green light indicates “you can come in,” Kumar suggests.