“We are now working from home and are still here for you.” How is our working behavior changing? It's not just a different place where we work; it affects our everyday life at home and how we work together in the office. The physical separation between work and home is .
Working from home has advantages and drawbacks. The beginning is new, motivating, and exciting. Some say, “Finally, if we have to, we can do it!” But working from home for a longer period of time can become uncomfortable, cramped, and lacking in variety. The biggest drawback is, of course, the lack of personal interaction with colleagues. Of course, you like some people more than others. It's no different in your private life. In a professional environment, we are expected to work as a team, and personal conversations break the ice, bring us closer together, often shorten emails, and make us laugh together. I miss it. This makes it all the more important to find routines in your home office routine when working with colleagues.
The advantages are, for example, that I can drink my favorite tea or coffee in my favorite mug. I can listen to my favorite music whenever I want. And almost as loud as I want. Greetings to the neighborhood!
We have a few tips for working from home:
- Morning routine at home – Start the day like any other workday before you go to work.
- Clothing – Our clothing reflects our attitude to work. At home, you should also switch into work mode rather than leisure mode. This is also important when talking to clients and colleagues. I work differently in my pajamas than I do in a shirt.
- Commute: The short commute is a definite plus—great, I can sleep longer! No, joking aside. I used the commute to listen to music, read business news or newsletters, and the way home to run errands and switch off. The latter is now minimized, but go out on the balcony or into the garden, take a walk around the block, or go for a short stroll.
- Workplace: Table, light, chair. All important. We took all our technology with us, created a workspace, and made it cozy and personal. Pictures on the wall, a plant. You shouldn't change your working hours too much either. It helps the body understand when it's work mode and when it's not. Air out the room, get up, take breaks. Move around!
- Everyday work: Create a work plan for the day, set weekly goals and deadlines. Plan breaks and a time to finish work. Meetings with colleagues, lunch breaks. Create a sense of community and lightness, don't just talk and write. When we only read emails, we interpret content differently, sometimes emotionally. That's why it's better to make phone calls or video calls to ensure everyone understands each other. New and exciting: the chance to change old patterns, perhaps even become more efficient, and create new routines.
- When working together at home, you should also let your family know when you can be disturbed and for what reasons. This takes a little practice, but after a few days it will work.
- Finish work – take time for yourself after work. For many people, the journey home is an opportunity to switch off from work. Make sure you allow yourself this time when working from home.
Working from home means organizing and motivating yourself. It requires a high degree of discipline and, above all, team spirit. For many employees, it is an opportunity to show their bosses in rigid companies that working from home works and is easy to implement after the pandemic.
At DRIVE, we were fortunate enough to be working in this model even before the pandemic, as our structures allow for staggered working hours within a team. This has always been a good thing for our employees with families and children.
Finally, here is a quote from motivational trainer Antje Heimsoeth, a 55-year-old best-selling author:
"Would, could, might – that doesn't help us in a crisis. We can only shape life going forward, not backward. Pick yourself up and keep going."
That's how I think and work from my home office.
With this in mind, DRIVE is here to advise you on questions about corporate structures, technical solutions, and more. Feel free to read our blog posts on these topics:
