For much of the world, the sudden shift to working remotely has been a shock and a challenge. For those of us here at The Kevin Eikenberry Group, it’s been a typical work week….kind of. In this series, we want to share our perspective as veterans “on the front lines” of remote work. We’ve learned a thing or two over the years that we hope might help you in your transition.
How long have you been working remotely?
I have been working remotely for about 6 years. I have been with the Kevin Eikenberry Group working remotely 2 days a week for about 2 and a half years. I have been working remotely full time since the middle of March. Before the Kevin Eikenberry Group, I worked with a company that provided virtual assistants to clients around the world.
What challenges (if any) are different for you in our COVID-19 remote work world and what tips do you have for overcoming these challenges?
Because of COVID-19, I am currently working at home with my kids, who are 7 and 9. Working remotely during COVID-19 has been challenging. Before, we had a much more structured routine. I had a set schedule that was carefully planned to get everyone fed, and on their way to where they needed to be, to do what they needed to do, and then back home again in the afternoon. While I am fortunate that my kids’ school provided great instruction during the two months they were eLearning, we still needed more structure. My 3rd grader was fine with getting her work done, but my son found it difficult to adjust to the change. We were able to overcome the challenge by creating and sticking to a schedule. We all have our calendars, and I let them know ahead of time when my meetings are and give them several friendly reminders. I set clear boundaries and expectations for everyone, including myself, to follow.
Working from home can blur the lines between personal and professional. How do you set boundaries to help with this?
I would suggest having a set schedule. It is really easy for work to blur into family and personal time because you have everything you need at your fingertips to do just one more quick task that ends up taking much more time than you thought it would. That is why it is important to stick to a schedule and have a routine.
About the Author
Laura Davis is the Learning Events Manager for The Kevin Eikenberry Group. She is also a wife and mother of two dare-devils. She loves Russian literature and yet still believes in redemption and a happy ending, and is always up for an adventure. And if it necessitates a passport, all the better.
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