Home sweet home...

These days we are seeing beautiful pictures of home-office work spaces, in a garden, in a nice loft, on a beautiful Ikea showroom type desk... but is Instagram really realistic?

Working home office on a long period is a challenge but it will most probably become the new way of working for a lot of you on a longer term. 

As a Mompreneur who has launched a company last year working from home and being pregnant, I wanted to share with you a few tips that helped me in being successful in a sustainable way.

These days are even more complicated because of the temptation to watch news all day long, the temptation to slow down on things, your kids who are at home and don’t understand that this is not a long week-end, your cleaning lady who is no longer coming…your partner who may be working outside because he or she has to….tough times! But also times to improve your organization!!

Here are a few humble tips I would like to share with you and I hope you will be able to share many others with us.

1.     Get up early as usual!

Set your alarm on as early as before.  Use the time you spoiled in transports to organize your house, do a bit of sport so that you don’t have to break your day routine to do your laundry!

2.     Dress up! 

It is essential to keep the right level of energy and drive and it is difficult to feel professional on the phone wearing pyjamas…at least for some of us.

Stay comfortable but presentable. I used to plan client meetings outside in the mornings so that I had to dress up every day. Now I am planning a Skype with colleagues, candidates or clients in the morning too so I also have to be professionally presentable. 

3.     Use your breaks to spend time with your kids! 

Instead of the coffee machine chit chat with your crazy single colleague who tells you what happened at the Xmas party, now it is time to play with your kids. Even if it is for a little bit longer…but if you give them quality time they will probably be less demanding the rest of the day! You have to set yourself and the family a new routine…it will require some time to adapt but communication is key! Otherwise you will turn mad.

4.     Tell your friends and family you are working!

Tell your friends and family that you have to work, if they don’t, and that you are reachable during normal working days breaks, lunchtime and for a nice after home office work online Aperitivo! It takes 7 minutes to focus again on a task you have been interrupted on.

5.     Set yourself SMART goals 

Set yourself measurable and reachable targets with reasonable deadlines so that you don’t procrastinate! Of course for the majority of us, our level of professional activity will decrease, and that’s fine as long as we keep building up our business in a constructive way. It is not very often that we can work on the “Not Urgent/ important” tasks!! What a luxury. For people like me who are more efficient in last minute and snowed-in mode, it is a challenge. Only daily routine and reachable reasonable targets will help!!

6.     Plan at least 2 weeks Ahead

Try and plan your weeks ahead so that your agenda is organized and you plan the future.  Starting the day without knowing what to start with is the best thing to non-starting anything.

7.     Take time to think, it is only in these moments you will be creative

No one knows how long this crisis will take and what will be the outcome, the only thing you know is what YOU can come out with. Try and re-shape the future, adapt your business vision, your career perspectives…We often say we need to enjoy the present to be happy. I think in business you need to live the future.

8.     Eat the Frog!

Start the day with the most difficult or boring task that you need to do, like this it will trigger the energy to do all the rest.

9.     Stop watching the news or the markets all day! ...Unless you are a Trader...

There’s nothing worse than anxiety to accomplish an efficient day of business. Of course we need to face the reality of what’s happening, but we also need to stop gazing about it and act.

10.  Take it easy

If you are not into working then don’t! For some of you it will maybe be the first time you don't have to show your manager or colleagues you are at work while you have nothing left to do. This act of presence at work is from another age! If you are not busy or not in the mood or tired, just rest or do something else. Be your own boss and be honest with yourself, when you decide to work, do work.

So no magical recipes but I guess in tough times if you stick to at least one of your favorite tip and it helps you achieve what you want, then you’ve made a step towards efficiency!

I am sure everyone has his own tips, so please share it !