Whether you’re working from home or decide to minimise going out, it will take some time adjusting to our ‘new normal’. Balancing work and family time at home requires great energy and patience and in this new normal we all are feeling more exhausted than ever before.
What will help us through is a simple self-care routine blended with healthy practices to keep us relaxed and connected. We need some time off for self-care activities accessible in our own homes, in ways that take little time or energy. We need soothing practices we can share with our families, keeping them engaged, bonding us together in the process.
Here, team Zariyaa jotted down a few self-care tips for working from home and maintaining your equilibrium during these uncertain times.
5-tips for working from home
When people don't have a routine to their day it can cause overwhelming feelings, lack of concentration and focus, which leads to additional stress and anxiety. One way to get out of this cycle that promotes deep thinking over the source of your stress is to maintain some structure and routine throughout your day.
The very basic routine you can have is a regularity to the time you rise and go to bed, shower and dress in an outfit that helps you feel put together and freshen your morning with an energising breakfast so you can think with clarity.
Create some loose boundaries to your working day, knowing when you’ll clock on and down tools at the end of the day. There needs to be time to hydrate and feed your brain, to care for your mental health and breaks to boost your mood throughout the day. In the evening set the intention to relax and restore so you are ready to focus again tomorrow.
Our surroundings play a crucial role in creating inner harmony, so take some time out to make your work area clean and keep some objects or pictures that make you feel good, make your bed, and tidy up your living space.
We often hear about the physical benefits of exercise, less often are the psychological benefits promoted. Yet, engaging in a moderate amount of physical activity will result in improved mood and emotion levels. Bite-sized sessions can do wonders for the ones with heavy timelines.
The following are common mental health benefits gained through exercise.
It is normal to lose our mind to the ever-changing news cycle, given rapidly everything is transitioning. But it’s essential to prioritise staying connected with your friends, family, clients and colleagues. In-person coffee or lunch date will be on hold for a couple of months, but here are some ideas for keeping those connections alive and well in the virtual environment.
Virtual Chai pe charcha: Spend one hour a week hosting people in your network to discuss something other than COVID-19.
Learning together: Bring your team together to learn something new. It can be work-related or not, but what is important is to be continuously learning.
Virtual Netflix and chill: Connect to a streaming service or downloaded a movie and share your screen in your online call. You can also use your video platform's messaging feature to chat about specific scenes during the viewing.
Having a hobby is a great way to spend your spare time and relax from your daily routine - whether it's learning a new skill, doing something outdoors, reading, or doing something artistic.
Spending time on your hobby that you enjoy can improve your mental health and happiness levels. Research shows that people with hobbies are less likely to come across stress, anxiety, and depression. Activities that get you out and about can make you feel happier and more relaxed. Group activities like team sports can improve your communication skills and relationships with others.
Your interests may be creative, sports, reading, or something totally personal and different. You may choose a hobby that you can do alone or as part of a group. Whatever your interests are, there is sure to be a purposeful activity out there for you. What matters is that it is something you find meaningful and enjoyable.
