We are in unprecedented territory as of late, with the transmission of COVID-19 and the strong encouragement of practicing social distance and self-isolation. As such, many of us, including me, are now on a “work from home” protocol. This can feel like a lot, and whatever you are feeling is valid.
Adjustment to working from home can be difficult, and as I navigate this new territory, I am also learning ways to cope in this new-for-now way of living and working.
Here are some tips to create normalcy in your day-to-day:
Make your bed
Making your bed can be helpful in separating night time and day time., It can make your room feel cleaner, more spacious and help you fight the urge to get back into bed.
Put clothes on
I know it can be tempting to stay in your pajamas or change into other pajamas when you are home all day, however, it is important to get dressed and in a way, you should dress the part for your day.
Keep a morning routine
What do your mornings consist of on a regular day-to-day basis? Keep that. Staying in routine and keeping the unpredictable as predictable as possible is good for your mental health.
Add movement breaks into your day
Staying home can tempt you to stay on your couch and watch/read/listen to the news all day. It is so important to implement movement in your day. Making it accessible to your capabilities, the internet is full of options of online yoga, HIIT, barre, meditation, pilates and more!
Learn Something New
Give yourself permission to do what you normally cannot. Have you always wanted to read that journal article but never had the time? Now you can. Perhaps you have always wanted to take up drawing or painting? Now is the time. Wanting to binge that tv show you never had the time for? Now you have it.
Communicate
Phone calls, video calls, group messages are very important. Now is the time to stay connected as much as you can.
Limit your news intake
Boundaries are key during this time. The influx of what we receive on the news and on social media can be a lot. Set yourself a news/social media lock-down and limit your intake.
Look, this isn’t an easy time for anyone right now. This is a major paradigm shift we are experiencing, and we are all learning this together. It’s okay to feel all of the feelings. Reach out if you need to, find a buddy to connect with and let’s just take it day-by-day together and breathe. We will get through this.
Are you ready to share your story of RESILIENCE? You can do that HERE.
Written by Alana Kaplan, Project Manager for the I Am Resilient Project.
