The old saying 'practice what you preach' is easy to throw around when it suits you, but it's not so easy to do!
Bringing my baggage with me to work instead of leaving it at the door is one of those things.
We all have private lives outside of work, and not all moments are picture-perfect; whether it's the frustration of the school run or realising you're out of coffee, it's natural to find it hard to switch off those emotions at the start of work.
When I worked in an office, it felt easier to leave my problems at home. I'd drop the kids to school, shake it off and get on with my day. But, unfortunately, I couldn't work out why I was having problems now that I work from home. I was enlightened to hear it's because I had a formal transition from one state of mind to another when I worked in an office. As soon as I had my uniform on, hair and makeup done, and was in a different building, my emotional approach and readiness were shifted from 'home me' to 'work me'.
Logically it made perfect sense when I sat back and thought about it, so now the problem was how to shift my state of mind and put some simple steps into practice.
On the days I struggle to leave my baggage (aka mum-life 😉) behind, I ditch the loungewear for my uniform and put effort into my hair and appearance. Even though I might only be meeting my peers on Zoom, my frame of mind shifts the same way it did when I worked in an office. Voila! my teammates have a calmer colleague who doesn't snap for asking how I am today. It's a win-win for all involved.
Some days require some extra motivation. On those days, I opt for sanity and self-preservation and looking after my needs. I find these few things really helpful for bringing me back:
- Take a break
- Do some deep breathing
- Revisit my work life balance strategies
- Ensure I move away from my desk while eating lunch
- Don't answer a call if I'm feeling vulnerable; it's ok to return the call later
No one needs to endure a snappy work colleague; you don't know what others have left at the door or how your strong emotions might affect them and their frame of mind. So, please remember to take the time to become more self-aware and treat each other with kindness and respect.
Hannah Watts; National Business Support Manager
IPA Topic: people and culture
