With the new norm of working from home, are you finding that you actually have less time for your ‘focus time’?
At least in the office, you could find time for a break! Why should it be any different at home?
Is there a new 'Conference Call' etiquette that no one told me about?
This lifestyle is here to stay folks, we need to adapt and adapt quickly for our own wellbeing.
I have noticed in the last few weeks that I am regularly apologising for arriving into the meeting a few minutes late and also having to cut other meetings short as I need to jump off the call to join another call.
This is not always a fault of our own.
So, what to do?
I have decided to take back my time.
We all need a break for water, tea, coffee, a stretch, to go to the toilet, to make important phone calls, and to catch up with people on a 1-to-1 basis.
Below I have shared my Top 7 tips to allow for ‘Focus Time’
Tip 1 – Ensure you book in ‘Focus Time’ that way people who want to invite you to a meeting will see that you are busy. Thus, allowing you to focus on the task you need to close out on. I use Microsoft Analytics – have a look it is actually a helpful tool and gives you insight into your habits.
Tip 2 - I use Microsoft Outlook and Teams, the default for booking time is in 30-minute slots, so of course, meetings will be back to back. My new solution is - for all calls, I change the start time to 5-10 minutes later and finish 5-10 minutes earlier. That at least allows a minimum of 10 minutes between conference calls.
Tip 3 - I suggest you also share the concept with clients to avoid back-to-back clashes. There is no point in having your project teams implement the change and not at least ‘share the idea’ with your clients. We are all in the same boat right now.
Tip 4 – Aim to set ‘focus time’ that suits your ‘circadian rhythms. On average, after the workday begins, employees take a few hours to reach their peak levels of alertness and energy — and that peak does not last long. Not long after lunch, those levels begin to decline, hitting a low at around 3 pm. We often blame this on lunch, but in reality, this is just a natural part of the circadian process. After the 3 pm dip, alertness tends to increase again until hitting a second peak at approximately 6 pm. (Harvard Business Review)
Tip 5 – Always ensure you follow a good morning routine, hydrate and energise yourself for the start of your day.
Tip 6 – Ensure you take regular breaks throughout the day, especially during your lunch break. How else can you ensure your energy levels are topped up for the afternoon?
Tip 7 – Follow the advice of Marcus Aurelius and start a good evening routine.
I hope that you find these tips helpful.
I have started to implement them and hope to achieve a more realistic workable day amid these different times of COVID-19 work-life balance.
If you have other ideas to share I would love to hear your feedback, we are living through unprecedented times.
Sharing together is the best solution!
