I know someone in the US who worked from home for almost 12 years. He was in the sales team and travelled a lot initially. As he rose, his travel went down. His firm did not have a dedicated office space for him and so they let him work from home.
#workfromhome #people #lunch
#workfromhome #people #lunch
Slowly he was working 18 days from home and travelled utmost 2 days a week. He is one of the happiest and gregarious individuals I know. As such I thought he would find it tough to not have the social aspect of going to work/travel. I asked him how he handled that.
For starters, he said I sat down and listed the pros and cons of WFH versus going to the office. If I asked for one, I could have had an office space but that would be an irreversible path. Then I could never WFH as much as I could right now.
He made a few key decisions:
He made a few key decisions:
1) He set a schedule for himself. That was work time and nothing else. No TV, you groceries, no treadmill nothing else but work. As if I am at the office.
2) To do that, he decided to demarcate an area in the basement for the same. He put up a curtain and a desk there.
2) To do that, he decided to demarcate an area in the basement for the same. He put up a curtain and a desk there.
No one can go in that area ever. Basically kids. That way, I don't have to police them when they are at home and I am working.
3) He decided to get ready for work as if he is going to the office. Rise, work out, shower, shave, DRESS UP and sit down at a set time.
3) He decided to get ready for work as if he is going to the office. Rise, work out, shower, shave, DRESS UP and sit down at a set time.
Initially he wore business formals but then toned it down to business casuals and then even jeans and a polo.
Basically his logic was that I needed to get into work mode and I could never do that in shorts or pyjamas.
4) He would step out for lunch 3 times a week. Other days
Basically his logic was that I needed to get into work mode and I could never do that in shorts or pyjamas.
4) He would step out for lunch 3 times a week. Other days
he would take a break and eat at home but stopped even that. He actually started packing his lunch and would eat at his desk.
Once again, it was about keeping his brain in work mode. The other reason was that he would actually see and meet people. He would go to the local
Once again, it was about keeping his brain in work mode. The other reason was that he would actually see and meet people. He would go to the local
Panera Bread, a well know sandwich chain. He knew the owners from being a regular customer. So that would ensure some social interaction right there. As he started going regularly, he started seeing 2 other guys there every day. Turns out they were doing the same thing he was:
Work from Home and come to Panera for social interaction. Soon they started sitting together and that number went from 3 to 5. That helped a lot because we were helping each other fulfill the social aspect but no one was tied to it. If you came you came. Easy.
He worked from
He worked from
home for 17 years. He has since changed jobs which now requires travel but I found it amazing that someone could work from home for 17 years, be productive, rise in his company and yet keep his friendly nature intact.
I spoke to him recently and asked him about the WFH culture
I spoke to him recently and asked him about the WFH culture
that's like to come in in larger numbers now. He said the challenge in India is space. He could allocate space for himself in the US but not all houses in India are built for that. So a clear plan for ensuring that becomes key. Speak to your family about changes that are going
to be needed. Try to set a work point. Like a table in a room or balcony where you are most likely to be able to sit for extended hours. With the monsoon coming, prepare for loss of power. Purchase stronger battery banks for both the laptop and cell phone. Look into buying an
invertor for the home electricity supply. Noise cancelling headphones. Back up internet dongles.
Sitting is the new smoking it is said. The risk of cardiac issues in younger individuals is rising. Set a routine for stand and stretch. Eat on time and stay hydrated.
Sitting is the new smoking it is said. The risk of cardiac issues in younger individuals is rising. Set a routine for stand and stretch. Eat on time and stay hydrated.
@anandesh said the other day "Organizations need to accept that work is going to come into home and home into work".
I think that's the key. I have been speaking to a lot of folks. Since I knew this success story, why not share it.
Its a new world and no one really knows!
I think that's the key. I have been speaking to a lot of folks. Since I knew this success story, why not share it.
Its a new world and no one really knows!
I wish all the folks in the corporate world, specially IT, all the best. Hope this thread provides some sense of direction on how to achieve the work from home conundrum!
CC: @aparanjape @anandesh @ksprashant @GireendraK
@Girbane @sumitakale @MCCIA_Pune
CC: @aparanjape @anandesh @ksprashant @GireendraK
@Girbane @sumitakale @MCCIA_Pune
CC: @GabbbarSingh
Cc: @n_karkare
