Dear Ilana and Jess: How can I make the most of working from home? I’m finding it very difficult. - Michael

Dear Michael: Working from home poses a new challenge for all workers who were accustomed to, or worked exclusively in, an office – or any other external setting. Some tasks are easy to translate to the home environment and others are not. Here are a few strategies you can use to make the transition as seamless as possible.

As we mentioned in our previous post, establish clear physical boundaries. Even if you don’t have a home office, create a home work station that stands apart from more relaxed zones in your home. This is a simple way to help you compartmentalize and establish clear cut routines.

Let family members who are old enough to understand know when you’re working. If your schedule is predictable – for example, if you have predetermined meetings or conferences, notify the family of when you’ll need some quiet. If you have kids and live with a partner, lean on one another and take child care in turn. As much as possible, coordinate schedules with each other to avoid meeting overlap. This will allow you to be as mutually supportive as possible.

Communicate with your coworkers. We’re all in quarantine together, and now more than ever we need to be empathetic and understanding. Certainly, you aren’t the only person at your company who is contending with the new normal. Let your coworkers know if you have inescapable home demands; childcare is certainly one of them. Ask your superiors about policies and protocols they may be implementing to help their employees navigate this unprecedented time.

Say This: “Team, I apologize, but I will have my children with me during this call. I will mute myself if necessary and will be participating as thoroughly as possible. Thank you in advance for understanding.”

Not That: “Is it okay that my kids are here?”

Say This, Not That is based on the work of Cognition Builders: a global, educational company headed by Ilana Kukoff (Founder & CEO) and Jessica Yuppa Huddy (Chief Learning Officer). Everywhere from New York City to California to Shanghai to Zurich, the Cognition Builders team is called upon by A-list entertainers, politicians, CEOs, and CFOs to resolve the conflicts that upend everyday life. When their work is done, the families they serve are stronger than ever. With their new book, Say This, Not That To Your Teenage Daughter Kukoff and Yuppa Huddy have selected the most common conversational mistakes parents make, and fixed them. For more information, please visit: https://cognitionbuilders.com. To purchase Say This, Not That To Your Teenage Daughter visit: http://publishing.andrewsmcmeel.com/books/detail?sku=9781449488055.

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Dear Ilana and Jess: Like many people, I’m now working from home with my two kids. They’re 8 and 10. How can we maintain our sanity while social distancing? - Jacobia

Dear Jacobia: First, we hope you and your family are staying well! These are very uncertain times.

First, do your best to maintain any aspects of your regular routine that you can. This includes, but is not limited to: sleep/wake up times, morning and breakfast routines, homework routines, etc. Even if you have no plans to leave, put on at least one article of clothing you might wear outside the house – a sweater, weekend jeans, etc. to give yourself a sense of normalcy.

Humans are social creatures; we were made for interaction. Fortunately, you can still accomplish this while also heeding expert recommendations related to social distancing. Platforms like Zoom, Skype, and FaceTime offer group video calls. Your kids can chat with their friends and you can do the same. Set up virtual playdates or hang outs as you normally would; this will help ensure that plans don’t fall through.

Allocate a designated work station. It can be hard to lose the structure of an office or any on-site format. Creating a designated work station in your home will help delineate the personal and professional and make it easier for you to compartmentalize during this difficult time. If you don’t have the room for a home office, designate a desk or dresser as your work station. It may be worthwhile to move around some furniture to solidify the separation.

Give family time some structure. Sharing organized, joint activities will help keep the day moving. Consider starting a family book club, where each family member chooses a book of the week. Schedule time to sit together to discuss your thoughts, theories, and emotional responses to the story. Not only is this great escapism, it’s an enriching social activity (great even when we’re not social distancing)!

Stay healthy!

Say This: “Everyone, we’re going to be starting a family book club! We’re going to pick a different book each week to read together. Let me know your ideas for this week and we’ll set aside a time to talk about it as a family.”

Not That: “I don’t know what we’re going to do until this is over, either!”

Say This, Not That is based on the work of Cognition Builders: a global, educational company headed by Ilana Kukoff (Founder & CEO) and Jessica Yuppa Huddy (Chief Learning Officer). Everywhere from New York City to California to Shanghai to Zurich, the Cognition Builders team is called upon by A-list entertainers, politicians, CEOs, and CFOs to resolve the conflicts that upend everyday life. When their work is done, the families they serve are stronger than ever. With their new book, Say This, Not That To Your Teenage Daughter Kukoff and Yuppa Huddy have selected the most common conversational mistakes parents make, and fixed them. For more information, please visit: https://cognitionbuilders.com. To purchase Say This, Not That To Your Teenage Daughter visit: http://publishing.andrewsmcmeel.com/books/detail?sku=9781449488055.

DISTRIBUTED BY ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Dear Ilana and Jess: My kids have a lot of questions about the coronavirus and I don’t know how to go about this. Any words of wisdom? - Mindy

Dear Mindy: We, the authors, support individuals and families through all of life’s vicissitudes. From the daily common occurrence to crises, we see our clients through each trial and triumph life brings. Below are several guidelines you can adopt to communicate with your children about tough topics, including the coronavirus. 

     Remember that communication does not begin and end with words. When talking about the coronavirus, use a neutral, even tone: it is comforting in the midst of seeming chaos. It also teaches your children that there is a way to express their worry without being overcome by it. 

 Answer all questions, but don’t speculate. Stick to the facts and give your kids age-appropriate information. If your kids ask about virus symptoms or its status, refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or another reputable source for information. Omit details that are unnecessary to convey; for example, specific death rates. Be sure to remind your kids of what’s being done to address the issue as well. For example, “health officials are working hard to stop the virus from spreading.”

Acknowledge their feelings. Let your children know that you understand and that it’s okay to feel concerned, but don’t leave it at that. Assure them that they have your support. For example, “I know this can be confusing and concerning. But, we are doing everything we can to keep our family safe and have every reason to believe that things are okay. I’m here for you.”

Say This: “I know this can be very confusing. But, we are doing everything we can to keep our family safe and have every reason to believe that things are okay. I’m here for you.”

Not That: “We don’t really know what’s going on or how this is going to end.”

DISTRIBUTED BY ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Say This, Not That is based on the work of Cognition Builders: a global, educational company headed by Ilana Kukoff (Founder & CEO) and Jessica Yuppa Huddy (Chief Learning Officer). Everywhere from New York City to California to Shanghai to Zurich, the Cognition Builders team is called upon by A-list entertainers, politicians, CEOs, and CFOs to resolve the conflicts that upend everyday life. When their work is done, the families they serve are stronger than ever. With their new book, Say This, Not That To Your Teenage Daughter Kukoff and Yuppa Huddy have selected the most common conversational mistakes parents make, and fixed them. For more information, please visit: https://cognitionbuilders.com. To purchase Say This, Not That To Your Teenage Daughter visit: http://publishing.andrewsmcmeel.com/books/detail?sku=9781449488055.