It’s been a month now since the first entry in this series about working from home was posted, and we were already well into the quarantine by then. You’ve probably been working from home for quite a while now—maybe long enough that you’ve grown accustomed to it and don’t need any more advice on the matter. If that does not describe you (or you’ve just been enjoying the series), today’s post may help. Last week’s post, which you can read by clicking HERE, introduced the notion that working from home can increase the likelihood that you will be reminded of work when you are “off the clock” due to unclear boundaries. To review any of the previous installments of this series, click the links below:
Let’s revisit the concept of being “on the clock.” One element you can use to structure boundaries for yourself is time. If you had (or are still expected to have) a regular work schedule before the pandemic hit and you were comfortable with it, try to maintain that schedule. If your work hours are now yours to determine, try to figure out a window of time that suits you (it may take some troubleshooting and tweaking) and stick to it as though you really did have to clock in and clock out at specific times each day.
Photo by Oladimeji Ajegbile via Unsplash
The overly simplistic goal is to work when you are within the window and not work when you are outside of it. As this is much easier said than done, try framing your thinking in terms of priorities. When you are within your work window, prioritize getting work done. When you’re not, prioritize anything else (e.g., relaxing, spending quality time with your cohabitants, partaking in a hobby). This doesn’t mean you can’t or won’t engage in anything else (like taking a quick break during work or briefly checking your work email one more time after dinner), and there’s no need to chastise yourself for the occasional “out of window” behavior. It’s gentler, more realistic, and therefore (hopefully) less anxiety-provoking to ask yourself to focus on work or non-work first and most during the times you’ve established than to expect yourself to rigidly adhere to one domain at the complete exclusion of the other.
If it helps and you have these social resources available, consider enlisting the assistance of others in sticking to your schedule. Communicate your work hours to a housemate whom you trust to gently steer you back on course (it may help to explicitly agree and discuss in advance what that strategy should look like) when they notice you spending large and/or frequent periods of your work time not working or vice versa. If you have the kind of relationship with a trusted coworker or even your boss that would permit you to feel comfortable asking that person to call you out when they’ve received a work-related email or notice that you’re signed into your online work portal outside of your designated work hours again, see if you can set up a buddy system in which you help hold each other accountable. Tell a friend your schedule and ask them to text you from time to time to ask for a quick report of what you’re doing at that moment. If the social route isn’t an option for you, consider opening a line of communication between your current self and your future self. Write yourself a note to leave on your laptop, work station, or area of frequent distraction that says something like “this will still be here at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow—go do something fun” or “your Xbox will wait for you, your assignment deadline won’t.”
Photo by Aleks Marinkovic via Unsplash
It often requires more energy, effort, willpower, and time to generate and follow through with an internal message in the moment (especially when we are feeling exhausted and/or fighting a powerful urge in that moment) than it does to obey a tangible, pre-generated external message. Similarly, you can utilize technology to serve this function. Set an alarm at the beginning and end of your work day. Create alerts on your electronic devices to pop up periodically with quick reminders about whether you are within or outside of your work window (just be wary of the possibility that addressing the alert on your phone or computer could create a distraction when you’re trying to work or a temptation to check on work issues when you’re trying to not work). Set your laptop to install updates to reduce your access to it when using it would be counteractive to your priorities at that time. Investigate and consider utilizing your device’s settings for screen-time limits; these can typically be applied only to specific apps or to the entire device.
Speaking of time and devices, what time is it right now? Are you inside or outside of your work window? Is your priority in reading this post to help you at work or to help you unwind? Do you need to put down your device now or switch to a different page? Get on it. There will be a new update next Monday featuring other ways to think about boundaries—be sure to pencil it into your schedule whenever it fits most appropriately.
MEET THE AUTHOR: ANNA KOZITZKY, LGPC
Anna offers therapy for individuals at Space Between Counseling Services. She specializes in treating interpersonal trauma, particularly related to sexual violence, and is motivated by the idea that if she can’t prevent people from harming each other in the first place, she can at least help out with the healing process after it happens. In addition to serving people who have directly experienced traumatic violence, she also works with supporters of these individuals. Anna also sees clients who are dealing with depression, anxiety, and major life transitions.
She appreciates creators who see and highlight the humor in the absurd elements of humanity (e.g., Marcel Duchamp, Igor Stravinsky, E.E. Cummings) and, where appropriate, considers it helpful to find moments to share laughter with her clients during their sessions. When she’s not working, Anna enjoys making things—especially food and crafts— to nurture her loved ones. She doesn’t just have one sweet tooth; she has 28 of them. To balance out a sense of cynicism brought about by some of the doom and gloom in the world, Anna likes to play pleasant video games like The Sims, Harvest Moon, and Stardew Valley.