This time is for new instincts, resourcefulness and creativity

Working “remotely” or from home has been a modus operandi for me for many years – roaming continents, regions and countries; and at times, when my home was in another country, to the main office of the business I was delivering value to clients and colleagues, focusing on efficiency, knowledge and creative thinking.

This time may be different because almost everyone in business and in the family will be working from home. It will test our cognitive abilities and instincts to self and to family care.

As an eternal optimist, I find this time as an opportunity to be more efficient, attend to self needs and the needs of our families, whilst being resourceful, being observant and reacting proactively. 

Below, I list some practical tips and suggestions that have added to my “working from home” life:

Work

For efficiency at work, split the day into chunks of tasks:

• Planning and delivery: Review news, emails, coordination calls with colleagues and clients, deliver content (to clients, students, colleagues - whatever content means for your work).

• Admin: Time to catch up with admin for work, financials, family, shopping, cooking.

• Breaks: To eat, read, catch up with family news and chores.

• Review and Wrap up: Review work to-do list for next day/week. Update schedule depending on work and juggling family realities.

Creativity

Taking time to be creative; either alone or in engaging the family. Some ideas below:

• For early risers – fitness regime, meditation, reading. It builds mental and physical capacity to deal with the rest of the day.

• Family book club – reading time and then a discussion to diversify the dialogue at home.

• Gardening, painting, or physical exercise out in nature to exhaust and tame energy levels.

• For late night cocooners – relaxation app Calm that includes story telling, relaxation music, or cocoon in a private space in the house to read a good book or write a diary of thoughts.

Learning new

So many options exist online to learn new skills, thinking and doing or enriching perspectives.

My favorites:

• MasterClass; online university courses - currently I am on to finance and governance; Udemy - self-development listening to Tara Brach (her series on “pausing. From doing to being” are just right for this moment in time).

• Cooking classes are abundant online, for example Jamie Oliver and Instagram accounts @cuisinovia and @dailyciousrecipes, or recipe exchanging with friends.

• For those women who want to understand more and discuss personal financial fitness, contact me for my seminar on QueensOfMoney (Skype sessions offered) www.cleopatrakitti.com.

Let’s stay positive. Do sign up to my newsletter here where I’ll be sharing ideas and my learnings.

New instincts, new learning.

Cleopatra