Do you struggle to get work done at home? When I was teaching, I would always bring my bag of papers (in the old days) or my laptop home on the weekends with intentions of getting so much done, but I always struggled to accomplish the things on my list.
When we moved from Texas to Tennessee, I had the opportunity to work at home, almost exclusively. I take care of the kids, the dog, and the house and prepare our food, but I also do a lot of writing and part-time teaching. It can be hard to make the shift from domestic work (which I love) and deep thinking work (which I also love) when there’s are no external force telling me it’s time to move to the next thing.
If you’re making a transition from going to work to working at home or trying to get things done at night and on the weekends, maybe the lessons I’ve learned this year will be useful to you, too!
Blocking Time
When I first started writing, I could only do it early in the morning. Yes, I’m a morning person, but the primary motivation was that it was too dark to notice the dirty socks on the floor or dishes in the sink. When the sun came up, I found myself stepping away from my desk to start a load of laundry or pick up toys “real quick.” But once my attention was diverted, it was almost impossible to get it back. I would try all day, sitting down at the computer, rereading where I’d left off, moving the cursor around, and then hopping up to do something else. At the end of the day I’d be exhausted but feel like I hadn’t accomplished any of the things I meant to do.
I’ve learned that blocking my time is the solution. Before the day begins (often the night before), I consider all of the things I need to get done. Then I pencil it in on my calendar. Not just the appointments and commitments to other people. Everything. I schedule loading and unloading the dishwasher. I put dinner prep on the calendar. And of course, I put my writing goals on there, too.
So when I sit down to write, I notice the dirty socks, but I leave them. I don’t worry that laundry won’t get done, because I know that I’ve dedicated time for that later in the day. When I’m playing with my daughter, I’m not also trying to write a syllabus, because I know that I’ve set aside time for that, too. Time blocking has allowed me to be fully present with the task at hand.
Blocking Space
I don’t have a home office. I have an Ikea desk against the wall in the living room. I don’t have a lot of space for my work, but what I have, I protect. No sippy cups, baby dolls, or jars of dead bugs allowed on my desk. No spinning around in my writing chair. And when I’m sitting there, I’m at work. These facts are important for my family and for me.
When I’m sitting at my desk, I have specific goals I’m working toward and youtube or social media are not invited. When I’m sitting at my desk, the kids know that I’m “at work.” It’s a Do Not Disturb sign for them. Having space sets boundaries for my family and expectations for myself.
Being Flexible
Life happens. My calendar can be planned down to the minute, but when the school nurse calls, it’s going out the window. The same is true for an unexpected friend in town, spontaneous dinner out, or weekend away. I’m learning that flexibility isn’t just for crisis management. It’s a key to letting more joy into my life. My calendar is awesome, but it is not life.
Have you tried any of these strategies? How do you get your work done at home?