1. Acknowledge that something will slip and decide what.

 These are not normal times. COVID-19 is a public health crisis without precedent in living memory… and brings with it the third and greatest economic, financial and social shock of the 21st Century (oecd.org). We are working remotely and home schooling, or living alone and dealing with isolation from our friends and family. We are concerned for our physical and mental health, and/ or that of others. Some things will slip and should.

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 So, how do we make sure that the right things slip?

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2. People first. Always

 My personal mantra is 'People first. Always'. Before anything else, is everyone ok? No work outcome can compete against taking time for someone that needs it.

 

3. Prioritise

 It's perfectly possible to spend an entire week sat at a computer, responding to emails, attending meetings and not achieving anything. Add to that the distractions of family, pets or social media and we can finish the week with nothing taken off our newly acquired Officeworks whiteboard.

 Identifying your priorities or 'Big Rocks' can help. Cyril Peupion of Work Smarter, Live Better suggests we ask ourselves;

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 "What are the two or three projects or activities that if I did extremely well - and nothing else… would have a significant impact long-term on my performance and my business?"

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 These are your Big Rocks and these 3 things (maximum 4, including a personal rock) require your time and focus. Everything else needs to be scheduled around them. Work out how much time they require to do well and schedule that first. The time remaining has to be shared across everything else.

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 Don’t forget your personal big rocks!

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4. Be Realistic

In doing this exercise, you will likely find that much of the first week is already booked. (Yes, even if you're starting on a Monday). Most of us have already filled our calendars for the coming week, so prune what you can and focus on planning the 2-4 week horizon.

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And whilst we're talking about being realistic, plan to spend some time putting out fires. Some roles are naturally more reactive than others, but anyone dealing with snap lockdowns, home schooling or pets and toddlers in an enclosed space is going to struggle to find eight hours of high-value focus time. #understatement

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 5. Establish hours of business

Without a regular train home or the threat of late pickup fees at day care it can be difficult to call the end of the work day. There is always one more email that could be sent or some other task still outstanding. But here's the thing, there always will be. Particularly if you keep feeding the beast by sending one extra email.

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 Performance is the oscillation between achievement and rejuvenation. You need both to perform over the long term. So once you're no longer making an impact, stop working. Take the time to recharge, however that looks for you. And once the wine is out, the laptop needs to go away!

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 6. Reality check your constraints

 The expectations of others, routine and 'core business hours' can make us feel that we are working within limited constraints. "I must do X at Y…" In reality, there's a world of possibility out there, even in lockdown.

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Take a minute to challenge your constraints. What is a real constraint and what is a construct? Daylight hours and weather conditions are real constraints to getting outside, nine-to-five working hours or nine-to-three schooling in lockdown are not.

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Taking a break for fresh air and exercise offers all sorts of health benefits, from neurological function to respiratory performance and eye health. It is proven to aid mental health and make us more productive. Simply put, if the sun is shining, get outside! Google Classroom will still be there when you get back. 

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