{"id":102556,"date":"2020-07-14T08:24:03","date_gmt":"2020-07-14T15:24:03","guid":{"rendered":"\/blogs\/?p=102556"},"modified":"2024-06-24T23:11:19","modified_gmt":"2024-06-25T06:11:19","slug":"how-to-adopt-a-work-from-home-mindset","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/other-blogs\/life-at-mcafee\/how-to-adopt-a-work-from-home-mindset\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Adopt a Work-from-Home Mindset"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Paige, Change Management Manager, Plano, TX, United States<\/em><\/p>\n

In the last few months, navigating through the pandemic has yielded changes in every aspect of our daily lives. \u00a0Because of COVID-19, many companies have suddenly moved to full remote work. My husband and I received news about this and school closings while our family was on spring break.<\/p>\n

As you guessed, we weren\u2019t exactly ready to dive into all the rapid changes\u2014even as seasoned remote workers. Being an active member of McAfee\u2019s Virtual Culture Club (VCC), a group that brings global remote team members together, I made sure to incorporate what I\u2019ve learned from these connections.<\/p>\n

Now that I\u2019ve spent significant time managing work and three boys from home, here are my four remote work adoption tips for parents who are also playing educator like me.<\/p>\n

Tip No. #1: Schedule Breaks <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Before the pandemic, I preferred to work through lunch, so I could attend my children\u2019s soccer and tennis games, volunteer or take over for my husband who manages school pickup, starts the kids on homework and prepares dinner. We had a pretty good routine and it worked well for us.<\/p>\n

In our new norm, there is no such thing as a routine anymore. We had to become comfortable with that. In my work schedule, meetings with varied times are constant for me since my role supports business in different places around the globe. At the start of the pandemic, our children transitioned to online classes, which also occur at different times and days each week.<\/p>\n

The change in routine and moving schedules took a while to become familiar with. I had to start blocking out time to fit in preparing lunch for the kids, eating meals and making time for a short walk around the neighborhood to get out and feel the sun. Once I started doing that, I felt so much lighter.<\/p>\n

Plan breaks away from your computer and make space to get energy out with your family.<\/em><\/p>\n

Tip No. #2: Allow Your Professional and Personal Life to Collide<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Our professional and personal lives occupy the same space now. I believe you can still manage both successfully. Though having a dedicated office space to work is necessary, I encourage you to let your kids pull up a chair to draw, craft or even read a book alongside you. This will help reduce any pressure you may have about balancing your time as a parent. Sometimes, our children just want to be near us.<\/p>\n

Recently, McAfee hosted an Online Safety Session series<\/a> virtually on Facebook, where cybersecurity experts shared knowledge and best practices with parents, teachers and kids to stay safe online. I was able to invite my oldest child to sit next to me, so we could watch it together. It was a win-win\u2014a learning opportunity for her, a way to inspire them with my career space and a chance to spend time together.<\/p>\n

When possible, find opportunities to break up your work day with positive family interactions. <\/em><\/p>\n

Tip No. #3: Sprinkle in a Little Joy<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A few months ago, my youngest child, who is a preschooler, started to practice writing on sticky notes and handing them to me while I was working. I\u2019d smile, thank him and put the notes to the side of my laptop. Dissatisfied with my placement, he would quickly put the note on top of my laptop and made sure it stayed on there with extra tape every time I stepped away. Now, every time I close my laptop and see his note, it brings me great joy.<\/p>\n

There are many ways to add joy in your day when you work from home:<\/p>\n