As a business owner, working remotely is not a new concept to me. However, working from home is. In my career, I’ve worked from co-working spaces and coffee shops many times (shoutout to The Co-Co!) and I can say with confidence that working from home is completely different. It has its good days and its bad days, but no matter which way you slice the pie, it is it’s own beast (kudos to all those who do this on a normal basis!). On top of adjusting to working from home while still onboarding into my new role of VP, Marketing & Sales at Millennium Systems International, throw in having kids, pets, and the general distractions that come with being in my own house and I have myself a dynamic environment.
So how has this been going for me? Well, I’m only human so the best word for it is challenging. But there is some silver lining. I’ve decided to share some of my biggest takeaways (the good and the bad) about adjusting to work-from-home life so far in the hopes that maybe something resonates or clicks for someone else adjusting to a similar “new normal” during this crisis.
I miss people.
Honestly, I miss the office! I am one of those people who thrive in office culture. I miss working closely with the team and those quick-but-productive hallway meetings. Talking to a screen certainly gets flat after a while, too. This has made me realize how much value there is in shaking someone’s hand, or smiling at someone while passing by their office or in the hallway.
Structure is key.
My team still checks in first thing in the morning and we still dial into our calls right on time, ready to dive into the topics at hand. I have also learned the importance of creating time blocks to do actual work and reply to emails. Even if it's only 10-15 minutes of focusing on emails or 15 minutes of summarizing a meeting. These little tasks go a long way and have to be intentional in order to be productive. I don't like to multi-task while in a meeting - it's not fair to either party - so these time blocks have been a life (and sanity) saver.
Self-discipline is a virtue.
From an onboarding perspective, self-discipline has been the biggest factor to my success. I am training myself to be even more laser-focused on calls. I am being easier on myself, taking it all in stride and not being afraid to ask questions as I know I am still learning. I make myself get out of my pajamas and dressed in “normal clothes” every morning as if I am going to an office. I also have three designated workspaces in my house to keep things interesting. These small but important details make all the difference for me. My team also helps me stay motivated and disciplined. Knowing people are depending on my efforts and looking for guidance keeps me going.
The upside!
I’d be lying if I said having no commute wasn’t one of my silver linings! Being from the tri-state area, commuting is just a way of life. Working from home completely eliminates this and has allowed me some space to appreciate the extra time in the mornings spent with my kids. They are the biggest and brightest silver lining for me. I get to be around my family all day. They have been great and are getting into a new groove themselves - which I know is not easy. Sometimes they need help "in the cafeteria" or with a school question that they can't get answered by their friends or teacher - and I’m grateful to be right here to help them. Of course then there is the random stuff that happens - a giant spill, asking how to turn on the oven or tell me about their gum experiences (as evidenced in this photo, for a laugh).
Overall, working from home has been a challenge, but I believe a blessing in disguise. This pandemic has forced us all to connect in new and exciting virtual ways and honestly, I think we are connecting more as a society now than ever before.
I know this situation is affecting everyone differently. I wonder what silver linings you might be able to find if you look close enough? I’d love to hear what they are. Leave a comment below, or let’s continue the conversation over on Instagram or LinkedIn.
