Well, it took almost a year of working at home, but I had an a ha moment about something I do that makes working at home much more stressful!
This picture is actually two months old, from December 8th
I am often in meetings all day, and it feels more stressful than it did when I was in meetings all day in the office.
And I JUST NOW figured out why. Derp.
When I was in the office, I was completely present in those meetings. I wasn’t looking at four screens, watching emails, phone calls, and chat requests come in. I had my phone put away. I had no idea how many other requests were coming in. I saw them when I was done with meetings and dealt with them then, or the next day.
But now, as I sit at my desk at home, I see all of that. And it makes me anxious AF to respond to things right away, even though I know I don’t need to. That’s just how I am.
The solution is to turn off email, phone, and chat (I still need all my screens for reference documents and note taking) but will I do that? Probably not.
But at least I’ve figured out the difference!
I’ve been in my new position 3.5 weeks and I am really liking it! I told someone this and they were like “of course, it’s the honeymoon phase.” Ha. I hope that is not it!
So true!! It’s so hard to stay 100% focused, and then you lose focus on the meeting and if you’re on camera people can totally tell! LOL! Hope you are able to relax that need to be on top of everything so you don’t feel so stressed!
Exactly! Today I only had the email folder for THAT project open, so that helped me focus! A little better anyway 🙂
That’s interesting and something I’ve never thought about. Single-minded focus has be be super challenging when you’re constantly getting distracted by so many other work issues. Nice that you figured it out.
Exactly! I am glad I did too, because now I can monitor it a bit better. So far it’s already helped today!
Your “supervisor” wants to know why you are taking selfies when you are working? HaHa
I know! Eek! I get in trouble with him a lot 😉
This makes total sense! I do always put away my phone while I am in digital meetings – I have considered knitting while listening to presentations but I was afraid it might be visible on camera…
I am glad you are enjoying your new job 🙂
I have a friend who knits on townhalls and meetings like that! Most of my meetings are things I am participating in and need to take notes, but it would be cool to be getting something else done.
Thanks!
I am so easily distracted so I always exit out of my email and put up do not disturb on chat when I’m in a meeting I need to be present for. Everything can wait – the world will not end if I don’t get back to someone right away, haha. But it’s a hard habit to break, I know!
Don’t you hate when someone tries to ruin your good time with a “it’s the honeymoon phase.” I once had a boss tell me that nobody likes their job and to get used to it. Ugh.
I want to do that! But sometimes I use chat to get info I need while I am on a call UGH. I can log back in.
YES I DO! I told someone that today and they were like “I’ve been in this position a year and it’s still the honeymoon phase.” They have the same position as me so that made me feel good. Like, when you are so over the last position you have, it might take a LONG time for the new one to get annoying. LOL.
That really sucks your boss said that. That is not true. And that’s super generational! But I won’t get into my opinions on that, ha.
I used to go from not very many meetings to daily meetings and it’s been an adjustment…. but I can totally see how being present with people and looking at a screen (while you can also see chat, phone, emails) is definitely more stressful.
What’s it like now for you? More meetings or less?
Nice photobomb.
I totally understand the anxious part of always feeling like you have to check everything. My therapist hears this from me almost every session. The best exercise she gives me for this: take 20 mins every two hours or 10 mins every hour to address the phone alerts. Granted, if it’s a quick glance to see what kind of urgency it is, then address it then. But most of the alerts I get are not personal emergencies.
That’s a good tip! Are you able to do it? I should try it! I am able to ignore my phone pretty well, it’s the computer with all its notifications. Ha.
I admit that it takes some practice, but I do make some good attempts at it. I’ve had to silence most notifications to reduce the distractions. But the 10 mins every hour works for the most part, once I can stop my brain from looking forward to that 10 mins. he he
Ha, got it 😉 Do you have a lot of notifications turned on on your phone? I just have calls go to my watch (vibration) and messages pop up on the screen with no noise or vibration.
Nope.. I turn just about every notification off on my phone. My anxieties are too much for that. My Apple Watch notifications for when someone works out or to breathe are bad enough, but important enough to keep me motivated some days.
Calls that go to my watch and iPad (in addition to my phone) still have sound and vibration, but I am ready to turn off the watch sound for calls and be vibration only.