5 Tips on Keeping Sane in the Time of COVID-19 and Working from Home
I have been confined within the four walls of my home for the past four months. Amidst dealing with my parents’ expectations, putting up with my teenage brother’s tantrums, and working from home, it tends to get tiresome. Lonely and anxious even. I would like to share with you the things I follow and how it has helped me keep sane during this time of COVID-19 and lockdown.
Create a flexible schedule for the day
When you’re doing the same thing day in and day out, it is easy to lose track of your time. Sometimes, I didn’t have any clue about how the day went by, and it made me feel unproductive and terrible.
So I started making a flexible schedule that I can follow daily. It roughly outlined my work hours, my mealtimes, and when I am taking breaks. The latter is essential. I take intermittent breaks to stretch my body. I stop working when my work hour ends. Also, I try to include the things I like doing (reading, yoga, virtual coffee sessions with friends, etc.) as part of the schedule, and I try my best to stick to it.
I haven’t always been successful, but on most days, this healthy routine helps me not sink into a state of lethargy.
Make time for meaningful relationships
Human beings are social beings. And this lockdown restricts us from bonding with dear and near ones. It’s not just my friends who I miss, but I also miss the small encounters of my daily life. I miss my regular chat with the coffee Anna at work, face-to-face work meetings, and casual conversations in the hallway, to name a few.
At the beginning of the lockdown, I felt myself drifting apart from my friends, and it started to affect my mental health. I was feeling lonely. You have to understand that there is a difference between being alone and being lonely. I was staying with my family, so I wasn’t alone. Yet I was lonely. It is the feeling that you can’t relate to anyone, or no one understand you.
To combat loneliness, you have to cultivate relationships, especially the ones where you feel safe and with whom you can express freely. It is a matter of effort and dedicated time. Sometimes, the conversations I have with my friends give rise to brilliant ideas. Other times, they have a way of making me feel unburdened.
Get creative with your work-out plan
We are leading a relatively sedentary lifestyle, and that’s not good for both our mental and physical health. Not knowing what to do with our time, we tend to be glued to our chairs and sofas, lost in work or Netflix.
Today, it is all the more important for us to make time to move our bodies every day for at least half-hour. And you can find ways to get creative with it. Put on some music and dance around your living room. Try new forms of exercise — Zumba, Crossfit, etc. Personally, I love doing yoga. It is a great anti-depressant. To mix it up a bit, I tried my hand at hula-hoop. With the help of the internet, I patiently learned it. I even got my dad to try it. Now, a few minutes of hula hooping is part of my daily routine.
Experiment and learn new things
It is always good to take a break from work, chores, and social media. We can distract ourselves by watching our favorite TV shows or listening to music. And when that gets boring, I like to seek out new things to explore.
I love reading books, and I try to venture out of my comfort zone and pick books from a different genre. (Currently, I am reading a book on neuropsychology, and it’s mindblowing 😄 ). I have always wanted to learn Spanish. So I decided to start learning a little bit every day. In turn, it led me to explore new music and movies.
There are so many new things we can learn from the comfort of our homes, thanks to the internet. It’s just a matter of being curious.
Practice empathy and gratitude
This is a time full of unknowns. And it can be downright scary and troubling. During this unprecedented time, practice empathy, not only for others but for yourself as well.
If you are not as productive as you would like to be, it’s ok. If you are having a bad day, it’s ok. Take one day at a time, appreciate yourself more often, and give yourself some rest. Carve out some time for yourself to do things you love. Remember that there is joy in the smallest of things. Find the things you are grateful for.
When you are feeling well, reach out to your friends and family and check on their well being. Listen to others and look for ways that you can help. Some of us are more privileged than the rest. Contribute in whatever means you can to help others in society.
Stay inside. Stay sane. Stay safe. ❤️
