I think it’s safe to say that we’re all experiencing something that we never saw coming in our lifetime. This pandemic seems so surreal (while I know it is very real). It is one of those things that, at least for me personally, I thought only realllllly happened in movies. I just keep saying “it’s weird times we’re living in.” But the thing is, this is going to be our new reality for a while.
First of all, I want to acknowledge that it’s okay if the last week has been shit. It’s okay if you’re crazy bummed about this impacting your vacation plans, birthdays, weddings, pregnancy / delivery, etc. Because guess what? It totally sucks. We’re canceling our long-anticipated, 2-week European honeymoon to Italy and Greece in June now because of it. And I’m super bummed. I’ve been planning this trip for 2 years, and dreaming of it for more than 10. This was supposed to be our time together before making babies and focusing on prioritizing life things like a house, babies, careers, etc. I know we’ll never get *this* trip again. And while there are SO many things I am so grateful for right now, and others I know are experiencing far “worse” losses, this is still my reality, and it’s still a huge loss to me.
Dealing with all of this is hard. It feels like our freedom is being taken away to some degree. I totally recognize and understand the need for the quarantine and the world basically shutting down... but it’s just... shitty. If you’re feeling the weight of the world right now, I see you, I feel it too. But I’m trying my best to focus on the “new normal,” and to adjust as best as possible to the change. While there are so many new distractions - kids home, partner working from home, simply staying home and going stir crazy, the news, etc. - I think this is a time to focus on efficiency. Getting shit done efficiently so that we can deal with the rest of what’s going on.
I’ve put together a few tips for navigating these uncharted waters and how you can work efficiently during Covid-19.
Tip one:
Find a new routine. Maybe it means getting up a bit earlier to get some work done before your kids get up. Or maybe it means you work in time blocks so you and your hubby can split the childcare watching/office space. But we thrive on routines as humans so find something that will work for your new normal for a bit, write it out and stick to it!
Tip two:
Repurpose old content and directly relate it to what’s going on right now. This way you don’t have to recreate the wheel. Look at stuff you’ve already written or shared and provide a fresh perspective. This will save you lots of time not having to come up with any new content. Plus, everyone is focusing on COVID-19 right now, so any other content is likely to get lost.
Tip three:
Set a timer for a task to get shit done by the time it goes off. When it goes off move on to the next thing on your to-do list. This tricks your brain to create that sense of urgency to get shit done. This also will allow you to have work time + playtime with your kids (or learning time, if they're out of school, like for forever, like mine is). I’ve tried really hard to focus in those short pockets to be able to accomplish MORE in less time. This seems like a good habit that can stick around long after COVID times are over.
Tip four:
Set small, attainable daily goals. Don’t try to save the world or worry about coming up with the next way to make you 100k today. Now is not the time for all that. Focus on 3 things you can get done TODAY and then work to check off those 3 things by the end of day. Use a project management tool like Asana to help you prioritize those top 3 things and keep everything else in the queue.
Tip five:
Outsource more. I am a huge fan of outsourcing all the things - including cleaning, laundry, meal prep, etc. While that may not be possible to outsource some of those home things right now, outsource more work. Especially if you need the TIME back. There’s a lot of people looking for work right now, so don’t be afraid to ask for help! This will reduce your stress and you’ll be able to accomplish more in less time.
Now I am not an expert by any means, these are just some of the things that have helped me. They’re things that I try to do when I feel super busy, have a lot going on or am just simply distracted. Now is one of those times. If you have any tips that are working for you, please share! I know we can all benefit from working together during this crazy, weird time.
Katelyn Hamilton is an Online Business Manager and Get Your Sh!t Together Strategist. She helps busy entrepreneurs organize, strategize and prioritize their business to go from overwhelmed to out-in-front.
After spending 6 years in the corporate world working with multimillion dollar companies, top-rated chefs and celebrities, she launched her own business to find more flexibility and freedom. She matched her corporate salary in just one year of starting her business.
Katelyn is also a wife, stepmom, dog mama of three furry friends, fitness lover, sports fanatic (Go Dawgs) and dreams of living at the beach.
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