Finding Balance In Hybrid Work Schedules
The world has more-or-less reopened, but that doesn’t mean we’ve found the same rhythm of work that we left behind in March 2020. The weeks and months of widespread remote work proved that we can be as productive in the home office as in the corporate office. Companies are rethinking the workplace.
However, the shift isn’t limited to simply all-in or all-out. Employees may work in the corporate office full-time. They may work remote full-time. They may also work a combination of the two. Hybrid schedules give individuals the opportunity to split their work week between both environments.
Let’s Talk Balance
There are certainly pros and cons to working in either environment and the hybrid model is no different. While the mixed week can pull a bit of the plus and minus bullet points from either work environment, it also creates its own unique set of benefits and challenges. For example, it can be easy to fall into a pattern of personal routine that varies depending on what office you’re working in that day. There’s certainly some merit to that, but if you feel like you’re giving up important components of your day to make an “in office” day work, it might be time to rethink your routines and bring some balance back.
Prioritize
Did you and your favorite pup start a walk routine while you’ve been working from home? Exercise, as well as time with your favorite canine, doesn’t have to be one of those things you only do on the days you’re not in the office. What things have you added to your at-home work days that help you manage stress or create space to focus on the thing you enjoy? You may not be able to fit them all in – it’s hard to squeeze “sleep in later, savor a cup of coffee while reading a good book, and walk the dog before I hit the desk” in on days you need to shower, dress, and commute. However, you could pick one of those things to work into your office work days.
Rethink
The days you’re in the office, you likely won’t be able to meet your kids at the bus stop, but that doesn’t mean that component of the day is completely lost to you. What was it about that time that resonated with you? Was it the bus stop or was it an opportunity to hear the stories of the day during family time that wasn’t cluttered with rushing off to practices or competing for attention with screens and texts and phone calls and late meetings? It’s probably safe to say that what you relished was the time together and that doesn’t have to be absent from your days in the office. It just will look a little different. Dedicate the first moments you’re home from work to catch up. No screens. No rush. Just catch up.
Set Boundaries
It’s easy to keep working when work is at home. Set office hours and adhere to them. That goes for the days you start in the office as well. Don’t open email back up when you walk in the front door or return a call that came in as you were leaving. On days you’re home, just because you can see the work, doesn’t mean you need to do the work after office hours. Give your space time to be focused on you, not on your work. Likewise, don’t fill your at-home work days with errands and tasks outside of your professional to-do list. It can be easy to blur the lines between the “work” you and the “home” you. Allocate your time the same way you would if you left the house that morning. Save your errands for your lunch break. Toss in laundry during your “commute” from your couch to your desk.
Set the Example
Leaders, your team is going to take their cue from you. If you’re sending off emails at 7 pm and responding to messages with your 6 am coffee, they’re more apt to follow your lead. That’s not a good thing. We need space to recharge and refocus to be at our most productive. There is no prize for working the longest hours or the most days in a row, unless you count burnout and overwhelm a prize. Set an example. Your teams will mirror the habits you exhibit.
