AdNews last year launched the WFH Diaries during the depths of the fallout from the pandemic, a way of sharing how people managed their days.
This time, with lockdown running again, we're asking for a run down on how everyone likes to start their day working from home. Some dress to impress, others slip on the t-shirt. And everyone has their own way to carve the day into manageable chunks.
Matt Bushby, Managing Director ANZ & SEA - Hivestack:
Coffee first. I’m notorious for being the first to wake up in our home, which is saying a lot seeing we’ve got two pups! Until the recent lockdown, I’ve been waking up and heading to the gym, so a swift Superman change from PJs to gym gear - Barefoot to trainers! I enjoy morning coastal walks the most where I feel the calmest and it clears my mind to take on the day.
Tips for getting through the day?
Most days consist of back to back meetings so it’s hard to break away but a combination of fresh air, surfing, exercise, having a clear head, (more) coffee and good food with my wife allows me to have a better balance in my days. Coffee is my reliable best friend and my first port of call, it never fails to disappoint!
Applying one of the habits of highly effective people, ‘First things first’, I establish the order of things and write down the urgent & important items in the following week ahead before I log off on Fridays.
We’re a global company so I’m conscious of time zone differences and that brings about a constant stream of communication happening throughout the day from early mornings to late nights. To ensure collaboration with my global team mates works like clockwork, the structure of my day and communications are well guided and timed by time zones.
Distractions?
I love surfing so knowing if there are good waves around can be distracting! Also, my wife is home schooling our 8 year old daughter, so I do have frequent unplanned ‘visitors’ coming to me throughout the day, which I love but yes, also distracting… Oh and did I mention the two pups who are constantly up to mischief? Chewing up my charger wires on calls and constantly having to manage them! Ha!
Upside.
Being in a regional role myself, without needing to travel or spend time commuting, I’m able to speak to my teammates or partners located in no less than 5 different time zones across the globe in a single day.
Spending more time with the family and being closer to the routines at home, it also enables my family members to understand more about me, my role and sharing my wins and challenges with them.
Working from home has definitely changed the dynamics of my family tremendously as there is more time spent together, it grants opportunities to connect with my family members, witnessing their days firsthand and sharing moments with my family is irreplaceable.
Downside.
I miss the face to face interaction at offices for sure! There has been no separation between work and home and lines are often blurred as it does always feel ‘imbalanced’ since my family is everything to me and I’ll never be able to shut it down while working from home! I’ll embrace this while I can as the time spent with my family is irreplaceable.
Try to show how different schedules and ways of working are used effectively.
There is no longer a need to be in the heart of the city every day, losing time on commute which could be spent more effectively elsewhere! Less commute means more time spent with family and I get to see them more!
In the light of the pandemic and lockdowns, we’ve all found new ways to communicate and collaborate - I find meetings are now more than effective than ever over zoom and video with an agenda.
I’m at the pinnacle of my career watching programmatic digital out of home accelerate in adoption across the regions and I’m dead serious and passionate about what I do. However, with the new norm of remote working conditions, I learnt I can never be too serious with my family and missing out on moments with them as we should always prioritise family first - work should not take over.
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