What we’ve done; what we know; what we believe – these are the things that form our mindset. This collection of thoughts and beliefs shape our habits, which in turn impact how we think, how we feel and how we act. In short, this is how we make sense of the world.
Mindset is important to understand because the voices in our head and the stories we tell ourselves can disrupt us and throw us off course. When working from home, we may find that managing our mindset is an even a greater challenge.
We’ve come up with some suggestions on how to do this – these tips can also be found in the webinar section of our website.
When working from home, it’s important to stay focused on your goals, set incremental milestones and decide what you plan to accomplish everyday. In our previous blog post, we discussed the importance of setting up your workspace. This also has a great impact on your mindset – a clear work setting helps keep us focused; a cluttered space can also clutter our minds.
Getting comfortable with the technology you’re using can also be a big help. Your company may even have extra tools available for you to utilize and learn during this time. Technology can also help you vary communication methods. Email can get mundane, why not try talking on the phone more frequently, hosting a conference or joining a group chat?
Managing your personal narrative is perhaps the most crucial aspect of controlling your mindset. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed and underappreciated. When this happens, take regular breaks – 15 minutes off for every 90 minutes of work – our mind needs this time to recharge and refocus. It’s also useful to have an accountability partner to talk with regularly. They can help you reduce stress and check your perceptions. Also, maintaining relationships with your work family through virtual lunches or coffee dates will encourage you to stay connected and centred.
If you do end up feeling extremely overwhelmed, stop what you’re working on, pause, regroup, and start a new approach. Recognize your core motivations – these are the things that matter most to you and drive your actions. Focus on what inspires you and the reasons you get up in the morning. To reset yourself into a positive mindset, list what you are grateful for. These can be small, ever day things, that bring you joy. Our mind cannot focus on both negative and positive thoughts at the same moment, so flood your mind with the positive ones.
A recent article by the CBC offers similar advice on managing your mindset including maintaining a routine, avoiding isolation and preventing ‘overwork.’ They also share advice for those working at home while having to take care of the kids; and how to overcome working in tight spaces.
There are several other resources for you to reference – listed below – during this challenging time. Our next blog will explore ways leaders can effectively manage remote teams.
Resources
Yahoo | How to Structure Your Working From Home Time
LinkedIn Pulse | Working and Not ‘Working’ From Home
LinkedIn Pulse | Working from Home on Steroids
