Adapting to the new normal
Times change and we all need to adapt, but the pace is usually slower than a single week. With the implementation of the UK’s countrywide ‘lockdown’ at the end of March, the way most of us carry out our jobs has changed beyond all recognition in a very brief timespan. Thanks to the technology now available, remote working has become the new normal for many people. Dining tables have turned into desks and communications expanded to include virtual meetings and even remote networking. Some people are prepared for this, as many staff now have the flexibility of working from home at least one day a week as part of their routine. But for others, it may be a considerable shock to the system.
Home, not alone
With so many aspects of our society closed, such as universities and schools, even those of us who are used to operating from home offices are finding their workspaces very different places. Partners, children, relatives and pets now also in the mix. As we’re all adapting to the ‘new normal’, there’s a few important points we all need to bear in mind. Some people like structure, while others benefit from the flexibility offered by home working. There’s no single answer, as each case is different.
Firstly, it might not always be possible to work our regular hours. Our normal working day might hinge on being able to drop our children off at a nursery or school. However, many of these establishments are not open, or are only taking in children of ‘essential workers’ at the moment. So, in addition to carrying out our jobs from home, we are also juggling childcare, which means they are at home too.
Shared responsibilities
As a result – and more people being in the house – you might be sharing the dining room table with your partner, or the study with your child. This isn’t always conducive to concentration and efficiency. Distractions may result in your productivity being affected. Try and find a way to strike a balance, dividing your time between your various responsibilities, to ensure everyone is, if not happy, then accommodated.
It’s crucial however that your home working environment is set up so you can find some time to concentrate and get some work done. This may mean changing your daily routine to incorporate more flexibility. A good way of doing this is getting up earlier, or working later, in the day than you would normally do. Many workers already adapt their hours to avoid rush hour traffic, drop children at school or nursery, or to help care for elderly relatives. Lessons learned from these examples can be useful at this challenging time.
Thought for the day
It’s also useful to set yourself some basic goals each day. In this way, you can retain a modicum of structure. Give some thought to setting yourself SMART (specific, realistic, achievable, measurable, timely) goals for each working day. Using these guidelines, it’s not about the number of hours you work, but rather the quality of the work you produce that becomes important. It also gives you benchmarks for what’s achievable, so be realistic. If you find you’re not hitting your targets, perhaps you’re being too ambitious – or not working hard enough!
It’s important too, to try and give your day structure. If it’s possible to work a ‘normal day’ do so, with regular breaks and a set start and finish time. This is obviously the ideal, but there will be many factors, some beyond your control, that will impact how productive you can be. Basically, find what works for you and be prepared to be adaptable. If one way doesn’t work, then try mixing things up a bit the next day. It’s a learning curve, with no ‘right answer’, but eventually we’ll each find our own ‘new normal’.
