BRINGING DISCIPLINE TO YOURSELF AND YOUR SURROUNDINGS
Job Search is a Full Time Job!
Work life and home life will have a tendency to blur.
Recognize what you are missing from your organization. Be honest about facts and emotions:
· Sense of belonging - esprit de corps.
· More work than you can possibly get done.
· Administrative support staff, or lack of ...
· Modern equipment/systems.
· Deadlines and helpful peer pressure to perform.
· Self-esteem coming from title and organizational identification.
· Meetings/interactions/idea generation and clarification.
· Structure, goals, priorities, tasks, outcomes.
The biggest danger of working from home is losing focus and discipline, and then going into a drift mode.
Create a Professional Office Space
As separate and quiet as possible within reason.
Think about some level of separation of “home” focused office and “work” focused office.
Make the workspace as light, cheery and comfortable as possible.
Have adequate office supplies. You do not need 5 years’ worth but have enough so you are not constantly running errands.
Develop filing systems for disks and hard copy. Create appropriate folders in your “My Documents” section.
Have a basic answering system at minimum. You cannot afford to miss messages. If you are on the Internet often and have only one phone line, get a call system that will answer electronically and check frequently.
PC with letter quality printer is key. If this is not possible, see if friends can help and/or negotiate with a word processing service.
Separate Work and Personal Life
Separate workplace: physically and emotionally.
Set definite work hours, and work!
Signal to others that you are not to be disturbed.
When not working, shut down the working apparatus and be with family, significant others, friends.
Managing Your Time
Discipline yourself to start work at a specific time and stay with it.
Do not quit until quitting time.
Establish a schedule for each day.
Build schedules several weeks in advance.
Know what time of day is best for you regarding certain activities.
Schedule meals and breaks.
Organize errands/combine tasks and trips so time is not wasted.
Develop strategy games! “How much can I get done by _______?”
Reward yourself for a job done well and on time.
Use technology to save time.
Learn to say “No!”, especially for ‘lunch with friends’!
Make quick decisions on small and low priority items.
Deal with mail efficiently.
Close the Door On Work
Decide when your workday is over.
Develop a ritual for ending the day.
Establish activities that emotionally separate office and home when there is no separation (walk, jog, read, hobby, etc.)
Do your best not to merge work and home life.
Avoid Bad Habits (Avoidance Mechanisms)
Snacking - often fills needs other than hunger.
Sleeping late/napping.
Watching TV.
Dressing sloppily/staying in pajamas all day.
Excessive time spent reading newspapers, magazines, and journals.
Spending too much time visiting/doing errands, etc.
Watch for Signs of Overwork
Your family and friends complain about little time spent with them.
You have many business associates but few friends.
You continue to work in non-working situations and talk shop wherever you go.
You work during your play.
You become edgy if you are not being “productive.”
You see non-goal directed fun as frivolous and doing nothing as being lazy.
You are letting the clock run your life.
You are so serious that you miss or resent humorous comments.
Be Honest About Facts and Feelings
Understand that grief resolution is an important component of career transition.
Identify your support system (family and friends) and let them know your situation.
Find a friend who agrees to “just listen” to your feelings (no “fixing” or giving advice).
Make a list of hard-to-answer questions and emotionally loaded topics.
Get assistance with answering tough questions and practice (role play) answering them.]
Get a mentor or “battle buddy” who will hold you accountable.
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