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Struggling to WFH? 
The way we work hasn’t caught up with our new world.
We need to retrain our brains.
A thread
The way we work hasn’t caught up with our new world.
We need to retrain our brains.
A thread
1/ The Problem
Our work is still governed by office culture.
Do 8 hours. Get your job done.
At home, it doesn’t work. Days seem longer, we struggle to focus, and we feel guilty.
Luckily, there’s a solution.
Our work is still governed by office culture.
Do 8 hours. Get your job done.
At home, it doesn’t work. Days seem longer, we struggle to focus, and we feel guilty.
Luckily, there’s a solution.
2/ Separate Time and Output
In the office we muddle time with output. 8 hours work = success.
So we fill 8 hours because we have to, regardless of what we actually work on.
This isn’t new, in fact Cyril Northcote Parkinson wrote about it in 1955.
In the office we muddle time with output. 8 hours work = success.
So we fill 8 hours because we have to, regardless of what we actually work on.
This isn’t new, in fact Cyril Northcote Parkinson wrote about it in 1955.
3/ Parkinson’s Law
In an essay for The Economist, he explained that:
“Work expands to fill the time allotted.”
Put 4 hours aside for a task, you’ll do it in 4 hours, even if it can be done quicker.
In an essay for The Economist, he explained that:
“Work expands to fill the time allotted.”
Put 4 hours aside for a task, you’ll do it in 4 hours, even if it can be done quicker.
4/ Retrain Your Brain
Which tasks do you expand to fill your day?
Stop thinking “I’ll fill 8 hours [time] with X, Y & Z [output]”
Start thinking “Today will be a good day if I finish X, Y & Z”
![4/ Retrain Your BrainWhich tasks do you expand to fill your day? Stop thinking “I’ll fill 8 hours [time] with X, Y & Z [output]” Start thinking “Today will be a good day if I finish X, Y & Z”](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EpXISKlWMAAcMfQ.jpg "4/ Retrain Your BrainWhich tasks do you expand to fill your day? Stop thinking “I’ll fill 8 hours [time] with X, Y & Z [output]” Start thinking “Today will be a good day if I finish X, Y & Z”")
Which tasks do you expand to fill your day?
Stop thinking “I’ll fill 8 hours [time] with X, Y & Z [output]” Start thinking “Today will be a good day if I finish X, Y & Z”
5/ How To Do It
Write down important tasks
Set time limits for each
When your list is done, so are you
Aim to do your work early in the day and swap pre-task procrastination for post-task downtime.
Write down important tasks Set time limits for each When your list is done, so are youAim to do your work early in the day and swap pre-task procrastination for post-task downtime.
6/ “OK, I get the principle, but I can’t do that in practice.”
You can!
Agree output with your boss
Use the Pomodoro technique
Check emails twice a day
Keep your work quality high
You can!
Agree output with your boss Use the Pomodoro technique Check emails twice a day Keep your work quality high
7/ When you’re done, enjoy the benefits.
WFH > Office
If you found this helpful, share the first tweet to help others https://twitter.com/danprestonme/status/1339197630887440388?s=20
WFH > Office
If you found this helpful, share the first tweet to help others
https://twitter.com/danprestonme/status/1339197630887440388?s=20
