TULSA, Okla. — Families around the world are starting to work from home as an effective way to keep themselves safe from the coronavirus spread. Many are beginning to find out it is a lot different from going to work, with a more relaxed dress code and the opportunity to get things done around the house.
But Brent Trout, a father of two, says it's best to treat your home office like your work space as much as possible.
Trout is a father of two daughters, one four years old and the other just ten months old. He is the executive director at Muskogee War Memorial Park where the USS Batfish now calls home, so doing work from his couch is a major change of pace.
“I set up a little space, I have a notebook, I have my pens, everything my normal office has except no submarine,” Trout said. “I have to get up earlier than [my daughters] do so I can get most of my primary work done."
To get as much work as possible done throughout the day, Trout says he acts like he's physically going to work - even dressing the part.
“I’m actually wearing my full getup right now, and just try to put yourself in a non-distracting environment," Trout said.
For the kids, Trout gives allotted screen time throughout the day, but also encourages them to play with toys and building blocks. He says boundaries are important, even with the rest of his family.
"Even with my wife too, she will message me to make things more convenient. She’ll be like, ‘hey before I get home can you do this?’," Trout said. "'Would you ask me to do the same thing if I were at work?' And she’s like ‘you’re not at work’, but I am, so you have to set your boundaries.”
Trout also says setting goals to accomplish for the end of the day is a good way to stay on task and monitor your progress in a different setting.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
Download our free app for Apple and Android and Kindle devices.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines and Daily Forecasts.
