The Achieve-HER Podcast

Episode 3: Productive Patterns: The Thematic Message Your Calendar Is Trying To Tell You

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Here are some ideas to help you be more successful in working or learning (or – TEACHING – from home)

Create a space to work

  • Doesn’t have to be perfect office like set up | Just make sure you are comfortable and have what you need close by
  • Right now, we have one office and my husband needs it for meeting online with clients and his work team
  • My set up in our room, kitchen 9 table, etc.

    •  Get ready

    • Don’t dress up if you don’t want to, but at least get dressed and brush your teeth!

      • Set alarms on your phone to get up and move around

      • A lot of people are more comfortable at home. While you are able, drop and do push-ups, jump on an exercise bike in the middle of the day, take a lap around the house, run some stairs

        • Prep meals the night before. 

        • Decide what you are going to eat, just like you were packing a lunch, so you don’t snack and so you eat more healthful.
        • If your kids are currently homeschooling, have them pack their school lunch, too!

          • Set work hours

          • When are you starting?
          • When are you done?

            • The pros and cons of working and learning from home:

            First the good news - Pros:

            • No commute! Save money and time
            • A little more flexibility. Though you may be required to be available or online during certain hours, often those who work from home can choose what their day looks like
            • No distractions from co-workers (kids are another story....) I know when I am working from my office, I am often interrupted multiple times a day. Even if only 5 people interrupt your workflow for 10 minutes each, that’s an hour you have lost of precious productivity time.

              • Now the bad news - Cons:

              • Isolation/loneliness – extroverts need people. Period.
              • Communication – Consistent and effective communication with colleagues and managers is often cited as the most difficult problem to overcome.
              • Too much autonomy – when you work separate from your colleagues, without discipline AND a plan, it can be easy to get off track.

                • I combine time blocking with what I call Theme Scheduling. Theme Scheduling means each day of the week has a specific theme that corresponds with your work duties.

                How to start:

                • First – Look at your current schedule Do you have reoccurring meetings, appointments, kids activities each week? Schedule them first. Start to notice the patterns already showing up in your week. 
                • Second - Look where you can bundle like items together. For example: Start scheduling all flexible meetings only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Use meeting days to return phone calls as well.
                • Third – Plan your upcoming week. Choose your themes for each day then start planning your projects and tasks.

                  • Why does this work?

                  • It helps balance your urgent and important tasks.
                  • Forces you to make a commitment to your priorities.
                  • It promotes deep work while combating procrastination. You lose the words “I’ll do that later”
                  • Assists you in understanding how you are really spending your time so you aren’t over- or underestimating how long it will take to complete a task.
                  • It allows you to say “no” without feeling guilty since you know when you’re available and when you’re not.

                    • Remember – you can use this method for your job, if you are a university or college student, for your kids, for a cleaning schedule, even for your meal planning. 


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                    The Achieve-HER PodcastBy Bonnie Rodriguez Mortensen
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