It is estimated that introverts account for half the population, yet the world is largely geared towards extroversion, with open-plan offices, huge communal rooms, co-working spaces, team meetings and group bonding activities reigning dominant. Since working from home for the last three and a half years, I’ve curated a lifestyle that suits my introverted sensibilities and helps me work better. Introverts typically seek energy through inner reflection and use it up through interaction. By creating a quiet space away from distractions and intrusions, I’ve become more focused, more productive, less anxious and much happier in myself.
Introverts tend to look at the world from an internal point of view, as if looking out from a house full of inner curiosities that only they know about. As introverts spend so much time in deep thought, they’re good listeners and tend to contemplate ideas before bursting into action. If introverts need this time away from stimulations to make sense of the world, maybe this period of lockdown is the moment when introverts, quiet leaders and silent hustlers will truly come into their own.
As Laurie Helgoe says in Introvert Power; ‘The internet doesn’t require golf outings and schmoozing; we can connect through ideas – develop a business, teach a course, conduct research – at our own pace and from our own space. Ideas are becoming society’s power centers, and introverts are natural generators.’
In this blog post, I’m going to share everything I’ve learnt from working from home – maybe these insights will help if you suddenly find yourself self-isolated at home in this uncertain time, or perhaps it will inspire you to reassess your work environment so it can better support your own strengths and style of working.
Because the truth is that not everyone thrives in busy open plan offices. I know when I worked in an office I suffered with a lack of concentration and felt endlessly distracted by trivial little things, from inane chatter to colleagues tapping away at keyboards with a distinctly heavy hand. Even the sound of the phone ringing would start to grate. I just wanted to put the blinkers on, get my head down and get shit done… Sometimes if I was really struggling and found myself staring at a blank Word document for half the morning, I’d ask to go home to write up articles – I’ve since found I need absolute quiet to allow my brain to rifle through the jumble of thoughts and get something comprehensible down on paper (or screen).
Often introverts work better in solitude. A lot of the time it was just the flexibility I needed, so I knew I could ask to work from home one day a week or work in a quiet meeting room if I really needed to get something done. Most workers want a little more control over their environment, whether it’s choosing where to sit, being able to open a window or being allowed to have a pot plant on their desk. There’s power in giving yourself permission to ask for what you really need. A lot of the time, if it makes you more productive, you’ll get it. I appreciate working from home or asking for flexible working isn’t always possible but I think in this increasingly digital world, it’s something we’ll see companies allowing for more and more. They might realise after coronavirus has passed that they don’t need such a large office, that they can trust their staff to work remotely, that their employees might feel more fulfilled with a bit more flexibility, or that a three hour meeting could actually probably be done in a 20 minute phone call. Perhaps this uncertain time will offer a chance to pause and allow us time to really think about what we want from our work, whether at home or in the office.
I consider myself very lucky that I can work from home everyday. I don’t take it for granted but in all honesty I would never want to go back. It’s allowed me to put my wellbeing first and it’s made me re-evaluate a lot of things in my life. I’ve gone from a noisy, slightly depressing, window-less office with recirculated air to a cosy home office with natural light and a green view. It’s had a supreme effect on my wellbeing; I used to have panic attacks and often dreaded going to work, now I’m content and I feel like I’ve got my anxiety under control. It’s no longer governing my life and my every move outside my home. I’ve now got a dog and walk in the park for 40 minutes a day. I cook fresh lunches and eat less processed food. I’ve also had far less colds and without a commute, I’ve found time for things like meditation and reading more.
But remote working takes a bit of adjustment and not everyone is suited to the self discipline. I’m an only child so have always been used to my own company and being independent. To work from home, you have to be strict with yourself. At first it can feel a little like a holiday and the temptation to lounge on the sofa and watch Netflix is strong. You have to try and stay motivated and organised, being both your own boss and your employee at the same time. Here are my tips:
Find a daily routine
To get in work mode, it helps to have the same routine everyday, just like you would if you were commuting. Get up at the same time, have a good breakfast, get properly dressed and get to your desk at a set hour. Likewise, set aside time for lunch away from your computer and have an idea of when you would like to finish for the day. Set yourself some boundaries – it helps give you the permission to switch off at the end of the day.
Look after yourself
It can be tempting to crawl out of bed, drag your laptop to the sofa and switch on the TV for some background noise. But that will never help you to stay motivated and alert, your brain will always associate the bed or the sofa with relaxing. I find it helps to make an effort with my appearance even if no one is going to see me in person that day – I never wear pyjamas during the day and I always have a shower first thing. You’d be surprised how easy it is to forget to brush your teeth! Cook yourself a fresh lunch (a stir fry is super quick and packed with healthy veggies), drink lots of water, take lots of little breaks and make sure to get outside for some clean air once a day, even if it’s just for a walk around the block.
Claim a dedicated space in the home
When I first started working from home I’d often position myself at the dining table in the kitchen. But I soon found myself doing the dishes, emptying the dishwasher or even reorganising the kitchen cupboards (procrastination at its best!). Whether it’s in your spare room or at a small table on the landing, clear a space and dedicate a corner just for your work free from distractions. Make sure it’s not in the exact same place where you’ll be relaxing in the evening, so you’re not spending all your time in one spot. Having a proper separation between work and play is so important and helps prevent a feeling of claustrophobia. Ideally your workspace will be somewhere that you can close the door on at the end of the day. If you have to work from the dining table, have a small box or folder that you can easily put all your work things in so you can put it away at the end of the day free up the space for eating later on.
Curate an uplifting space that you feel good in
Think about what makes you feel productive and helps you stay in the zone. What do you like to surround yourself with when you work? Do you like to have a view to look out on or are you distracted easily and work better in front of a blank wall? Give your workspace some TLC – sometimes simply lighting a candle and having some flowers on the desk can help. In order to work at my best, I need my desk to be tidy and free of clutter. Even just a tangle of wires can start to annoy me. I try to spend 5-10 minutes at the end of the day getting my desk back in order so the next day I’m good to go.
Use the time that you would be commuting as time for yourself
Most Londoners can spend up to an hour getting to work. If you no longer commute, you can suddenly find yourself with a little bit of extra time. Use that freedom wisely – it’s not just an excuse to get up later or stay at your computer longer. Use the time when you would be on the train or in the car to read more, practice yoga, learn a new skill, go for a walk or do some exercise.
Work to your strengths
Working from home gives you a chance to reassess when you work best. You can make the rules. If you’re an early bird, adjust your work hours and get your head down first thing, if you work best just after lunch, don’t schedule an important consultation call just before midday. If you like to work on a Sunday when no one will disrupt you with emails, take Monday off. Just keep your colleagues, clients or anyone you’re working with in the loop. Also, set the hardest tasks for when you’re most alert and use the times when you’re feeling a bit sluggish for easier things that don’t require as much mental energy.
Prioritise tasks and plan ahead
At the start of each working week I like to spend a little time writing down my to-dos and thinking about my goals for the next few days. I’ll have a longer weekly to-do list then a shorter mini to-do list for each day. Make sure to break down tasks, sometimes they’ll take longer than you think, for instance instead of scribbling down ‘write blog post’, I’ll divide it into sub-sections: edit photos, write up notes, write captions, check SEO. I also like to do things in threes, so each daily to-list only has three tasks. There’s one big task that really needs to be done, one that would be good to get done but isn’t necessary and finally one little task that would be nice, easy and enjoyable.
Disconnect when you’re in the zone
Turn your phone on silent, put it in another room and mute your notifications. There’s nothing worse than trying to focus and little windows popping up incessantly on your screen. I know some people even have an out of office stating that they answer emails at set hours in the day. I try to only check my emails once or twice a day. Tip: answer your emails towards the end of the day then there’ll be less back and forth and therefore less distraction.
And when you’re not in the zone, don’t force it
Some days you’re just not as productive, your thoughts are elsewhere and there’s not amount of motivational talk that can get you in the zone. Don’t try to fight it, you’ll only get more frustrated. Take some deep breaths and if you can, come back to the task tomorrow. It sometimes helps to get some distance and have a change in scenery.
Set aside time for something you enjoy everyday
Some things need doing and can’t be avoided, but it’s also important to allow for free, creative time just for you. In Introvert Power, Laurie Helgoe distinguishes between Natural Work (the work you are compelled to do because of who you are) and Imposed Work (work that you have to push yourself to do). I make sure I have at least one day a week dedicated just to writing – it’s not necessarily paid work and it’s not for a brand or client, but it fills me with joy and gives me a feeling of satisfaction. I know it’s a luxury, but freelance life affords you the flexibility that allows paid work to cover those free creative days.
Remember the bigger picture
I also like to have one ‘creative day out’ a month – think of it a bit like team bonding, but I’m reconnecting with myself, outside the home. I’ll go to an exhibition or sit in a cafe and brainstorm ideas. It’s so easy to get tied up in the mundane and feel like you’re fire fighting your to-do list. It helps to remember your long term goals and keep refining them to suit you. It might not be so possible to get out the house right now, but time off is not time out – sometimes ideas come when you least expect, when you’re walking outside, or when you’re absorbed in an activity or just falling asleep.
Don’t get distracted by other people’s needs
A freelancer can easily become the neighbourhood missed parcel collector. And just because you’re working from home, doesn’t mean you have time to do all the housework. Focus on you and stick to your own goals.
Avoid complete isolation and connect with other people
Sometimes even introverts get bored of their own company and need some human interaction. Some days I find I’ve only talked to the dog. You can have moments of solitude but you also need time for connection to counteract feelings of loneliness and isolation. Sometimes you can get too into your own thoughts. It helps to have a sense of belonging in a community; this might be online with like-minded creatives or it might be in the form of a book club or a weekly workshop (again not quite so possible right now). Set up a Skype session with another freelancer to bounce ideas – it might spark some new ideas you hadn’t thought about. Check in with friends who are also working from home – set a time when you’re both having coffee or lunch and have a digital catch up via video.
How are you all doing? Do you normally work from home and do you have any lessons to add for those navigating this new way of working? Would you like to work from home more in the future or does the idea fill you with dread?
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