If working from home is new to you, or not working from home for those of you whose positions didn’t allow for a work from home transition, can be a difficult adjustment for many. Days seem to blend together, schedules are abandoned, quarantine snacks become the highlight of your day and before you know it you might find yourself in a rut.
The temptation to binge on that Netflix show you’ve been missing for months or to bundle up in bed to wait out social distancing may be too great for many of you to resist. But for those of you looking to maintain a semblance of normalcy during these uncertain times, here are three ways you can tune into your mental and physical health while stuck at home:
- Stick To A Schedule
Waking up early is one of the habits of highly successful people.
While getting up with the sun may be the last thing some of you want to do, getting up early is recognized as one of the habits found in most successful people. In a poll by Vanderkam, 90% of executives say that wake up before 6am on weekdays. Getting up early can allow for peaceful time to set intentions, organize your schedule, workout or meditate before starting your day.
Waking up when the sun rises may also have bonus benefits for your mental health, evidence suggests that sunlight exposure in early morning can improve symptoms of depression and combat seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Bonus Tip, Read! Checkout one of our recent favorites: What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast: And Two Other Short Guides to Achieving More at Work and at Home from Laura Vanderkam
Work When You’re Most Productive
Not a morning person? No worries, it’s important recognize when you feel most productive and plan your day around your most energized and motivated time. If your co-workers aren’t on the same schedule you can utilize features like email scheduling to have your messages arrive early am so that your communication stays on track as well as your productivity.
Plan Your Day At Night
Cleaning out your email box is an easy and mindless task you could tackle at night to decrease morning email anxiety. Some find that habits like bullet journaling in the evening can help set intentions for the coming day and limit morning stress. Whatever it is that helps you feel organized and calm when in the office, it’s important to remember to stick with it while at home so that working from home doesn’t become stressful.
Don’t have weights at home? A baby can work in a pinch 😉
2.Stay Active
Staying active isn’t just good for your body, it’s good for your mind. In fact, studies show that just 30 minutes of physical activity can have a tangible impact on depression, anxiety and stress.
Staying active at home can become pretty challenging but there are some great free resources available that require no equipment. You Tube yoga instructor Adriene of Yoga with Adriene has some really great quick routines that you can do with just a mat. She just published a new series Yoga for Uncertain Times that uses moves that help address the impact of the loneliness a lot of us are feeling during social distancing.
On Instagram I shared a few moves you can do from anywhere in your home to keep your heart pumping and your blood moving.
Not A Fitness Buff? Play Games!
Remember when everyone was suddenly a home bowler when Nintendo released the Wii over a decade ago? Now might be a great time to dust off your old gaming system. No Wii? No worries. Basketball, gardening, yardwork, even carrying laundry up and down the stairs are good ways to keep your body moving.
Make A Stand Up Desk.
You don’t have to invest in a fancy stand up desk to keep your blood moving during the work day. You can find a variety of ways to create a stand up work station. Does your kitchen have an island that could fit a laptop? Maybe a stack of books and an ironing board? Get creative! Standing up can help increase focus while working, increase productivity and it help keep your blood flowing which can help energy levels and mood.
Got a handyperson around the house? Try a couple of these tutorials for creating a standing work station.
Life Hacker: Make Yourself a Standing Desk This Weekend
Bob Villa: Six DIY Standing Desks
3.Stay Connected
Modern technology has made it incredibly easy to stay connected with friends and family no matter where they are in the world. Use tools like Skype, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts, WhatsApp, Facebook Workplace and Trello to stay connected with friends and colleagues at work. Positive social support can improve our resilience in coping with stress. Check-in with your friends, family, and neighbors regularly.
Send Letters Or Mail Small Handmade Gifts
If technology isn’t your thing, you can mail small handmade gifts, treats or notes to loved ones to let them know you care. Small acts can help keep us connected and keep our hearts and minds strong. Want to send Hemp Lyfe to a friend or family member whose feeling stressed? Use code: STAYCONNECTED to take 30% off on us.
