Flashback to 2010 when working from home sounded luxurious. You are in your pajamas, you come and go as you please, you step away from your computer every hour—this sounded like the utopia of work-life balance. This was the vision of the millennial promised land—happy productive workers in different time zones.

And then came COVID. Such a cruel and unexpected twist for individuals and businesses. Suddenly office workers are all working from home. Children are learning from home. Front-line workers in grocery stores, hospitals, and public transportation are putting their lives at risk each day. Overnight, the world of work changed.

There is one thing that all workers are experiencing right now: in this new world of work, more is being required of you. Whether you are an office worker Zooming at home all day, or a front-line healthcare worker risking your health, you are feeling the burden of uncertainty. This uncertainty is permeating the workforce. It is changing the way we communicate with our peers and our customers. It is changing the definition of work-life balance. It is changing the way we use technology. It is even changing the nature of many jobs. That 1990s vision of utopia simply doesn’t apply to our current circumstances.

What does our current situation have to offer as we think about the new world of work? What is next? What is YOUR NEXT-NEXT? We already know that it’s unlikely to look anything like what you planned six months ago.

Currently your remote workplace has no boundaries. To demonstrate productivity to your management and peers, you are likely to respond immediately and at all hours. Your work environment is now the place where you live, prepare meals, sleep, shower, spend time with your family, your dog, etc. day in and day out.

This world of sameness, often referred to as Groundhog Day or Blursday, is here to stay. While companies will eventually figure out which jobs can remain remote and which ones will return to an office, the world of a distributed workforce is here to stay. Your job and how you do it will be forever changed.

All of this change and uncertainty can cause stress, not only from living in a world with a pandemic, but because you may be feeling the need to be productive --- ALL.THE.TIME.

By now you are probably asking yourself what steps you can you take to stay sane and be successful in this new world of work. We have found that taking deliberate action in three areas will support you in making the mind shift required for the new world of work.

1) Manage Yourself 2) Redefine Productivity 3) Own Your Career

Manage Yourself
Set boundaries. To the extent possible, decide on some non-negotiables. Determine times when you are on and when you are off. Be deliberate about when you can and cannot be interrupted. Schedule time to be with loved ones, to think, to write, to return calls/emails, to Zoom, and to focus on self-care. This is necessary, for yourself, your mental health, and for those you love.

We are already seeing the rise of No Meeting Days, virtual Happy Hours, and designated time off with no online activity. In our new world of work, managers and employees alike are sorting out how to let their needs be known and acknowledge that everyone is sorting out the meaning of blended work/home life. Executives and professionals are making progress in understanding the importance of boundaries. It is now a necessity in retaining strong talent, keeping teams engaged and motivated, and building one’s own reputation as a good leader.

Redefine Productivity
As coaches, we have heard a common theme from clients the past few months – a sentiment that they believe they should be more productive while working from home. They do not understand why it’s so hard to focus, to find the time to complete projects and why are they so exhausted all the time.

Remote working sets the stage for multitasking because those lines between work and personal lives has become blurred. While multitasking in small amounts is not a bad thing, constantly diverting your attention from topic to topic or from project to project hampers productivity. It is disruptive to focus, creativity, and strategic thought. Neuroscientists confirm that instead of saving time, we become less efficient and drained of energy when we constantly multitask.

To set yourself up for success, it’s time to redefine productivity. It requires discipline and acceptance of the fact that too much multitasking will work against you. Deliberate actions to create a dedicated space where you will work and only do work, a schedule for each work day that includes free time and time set aside for project work, and an agreement with your family and coworkers around boundaries are all essential to success.

Own Your Career
It is very easy to get into a deep rhythm of work, home, work, home; but remember, you have a career and a profession that requires constant nurturing. It is important that you regularly take time to assess your skill development and career. Stay connected. Keep in touch with your network. A phone or video call can be as intimate as an in-person meeting—with fewer distractions. Stay current with industry practices by joining online communities, participating in webinars, e-learning, and blogging. Follow industry leaders on social media. Be deliberate about who you network with, both internal and external to your organization. Take advantage of this time to develop new mentors and even consider becoming a mentor to others.

Yes, this truly is the new world of work. Yes, it is uncomfortable. Yes, you now have more responsibility for yourself. There is no clear roadmap and no clear timeline; however, understanding that work now requires more from you is your first step to discovering YOUR NEXT-NEXT.

Springer Alvarez is a team of executive coaches working with companies and professionals who are navigating the new world of work. Their work includes insights into current trends in talent management, leadership development and preparing for a future of work that is mutually beneficial to both employers and employees.

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Your Next-Next

The New World of Work - Requiring MORE From You

1) Manage Yourself 2) Redefine Productivity 3) Own Your Career