Why we’re doing the opposite of the home-learning advice we’ve heard
I feel like a hypocrite to write this, because my last few days have been anything but productive or systematic. There have been heavy sicknesses here however (Strep for two, plus an ear infection for the youngest). My family is now recovering fine and last night we got our first night of sleep! The rest of this info holds true even if I’ve not been a shining example…
Humans don’t always have the best understanding of what we want, or how to get there.
For example, we all say we want to be millionaires, but few people save money. Even fewer learn how to intelligently invest. There are a lot of variables in the stock market, and we can’t all dedicate the time to learn what’s necessary.
Or maybe you want to be a writer, an artist, a musician. Each of these sounds easy on the surface, but once you begin to dig in, your initial enthusiasm fades in the face of the deeper challenges you weren’t expecting.
They’re worth goals, shared by millions of people.
But have a goal isn’t always enough. It takes consistent action towards that goal —it takes systems— to really achieve your goal.
Systems are a defined, consistent set of actions. Don’t feel like working? Too bad. If you have a goal, you’re only going to get there if you cut out other distractions and make it your master.
And as much as we resist the idea of Obedience or Limitations, it’s within those limitations that we thrive.
Working at Home
It’s no different when you’re working from home, like so many people are right now.
The habits and systems you create early in this home quarantine are going to define how productive you are every day.
Do not wait to build your routine or your environment will override your best intentions.
Get dressed for work. It’s the same reason we might dress better at work than the weekends — the uniform you wear at work or at home influences your behavior and attitudes.
Stick to a schedule. It’s too easy to think you can quickly run an errand or clean your house. But that time will slip away faster than you expected, impacting your productivity.
Reward your progress. Don’t give in to small snacks or short breaks all day long. Set them according to a schedule, too, and save a larger reward for accomplishing your daily routine.
What About Kids?
It’s the same if you have kids at home. Kids are especially comforted by a routine, where surprises don’t exist. The best routine you can provide for them will help you maintain your sanity and them to maintain a sense of order.
At our home (sickness and all) we’ve been sticking to this schedule my wife created for our 4- and 6-year-old kids.
Unlike advice I have heard to “ease into” your home-school schedule during the close of schools, we’re doing the opposite: starting immediately.
We want to our routine of school subjects to be set the expectation of the day, instead of something we’re trying to introduce after the kids are comfortable going crazy and getting a bit too much television. (People don’t like to lose what they have —known as “prospect theory”— and that includes free time!)
Here’s our ambitious schedule, which we’re juggling between reduced hours of our day jobs:
You know best what works for you and your family. I encourage you to create a system and routine that will impose the limitations everyone needs to thrive.
Start today. Write it down.