I have changed several things about how I work since I began teleworking. One of the biggest ways is that I am forcing myself to move away from how I work in an office to how I would like to work if I didn’t go to an office.
Through the years, I was frustrated when I read how different leaders spent their days working with a schedule that I felt I could not possibly do because I had to go to work. These leaders had the liberty of planning their day the way they wanted to. They were the CEO, of course—I am not. They could work any way they wanted too.
However, for the first few weeks or so of teleworking, I found myself trying to fit into that traditional office schedule. I did this partly because I wanted to stay focused and not be sucked into denying that this pandemic and teleworking situation was occurring and will be occurring for the long haul. I was also comfortable with the familiar routine.
Then, I realized that I have a fantastic opportunity to live and work the way I always hoped to. So, I began changing my schedule around. Of course, some of the scheduled appointments cannot be controlled. My basic schedule, though, can be. I can arrange my workflow in a way that works best for me.
So, I have built a schedule that still gets me up early for fitness. I then begin my workday at 8AM with a quick glance at email and an hour of reading. At 10AM, the kids all take a break from their homeschool. Then at 10:30AM until 4:00PM, I’m typically at my desk, with an hour for lunch. Lunch, however, typically turns into more reading—as much as I try not to.
This may change, but I am slowly becoming accustomed to this routine and maybe it can be followed somewhat when I return to the office.