First of all, let’s address the obvious: we are pretty much ALL miserable right now because of Covid-19 (CORONA VIRUS! *Cardi B voice*) and it really sucks, on SO MANY levels! Especially for those who are required to continue going to work despite the very real risk of catching the virus, those who have to stay home without pay or those who have lost their jobs altogether.
I am one of the very very fortunate few that not only don’t have to go to work, but continue to get paid. The fact that I managed to get a full-time job in the school system – complete with salary and benefits – right before this mess started is ENORMOUSLY fortunate, and for that I am so grateful.
Although I know how lucky I am to have job security and a steady paycheck, I am still losing my mind, as I am sure many of you are! After spending about two of the last three years unemployed, I was definitely getting comfortable with my new work-gym-home routine and feeling like I was in a good place.
Despite not being thrilled about the current situation we are all in, I have definitely become a pro at keeping busy without a job, and many of those tips apply for this “quarantine” as well. Here is what I learned from being on long term “fun”-employment:
Get up!
The hardest thing to do when you’re stuck at home – either working from home, unemployed, or otherwise – is motivating yourself to wake up, let alone get out of bed. When you have nothing to get up for – or at least not at a certain time – it feels really pointless. However, the whole point of this guide is to keep you feeling sane and avoid that depressing loss of interest, so getting up is the first step!
Make your bed right away
I have ALWAYS been super OCD about making my bed every morning, but the best time to do it is RIGHT when you get up. Not only will it mark a clear separation between sleep time and work time, but it will instantly make your room feel cleaner, which helps a lot with productivity.
Get dressed – even if you aren’t going anywhere
I don’t think it is necessary to change and get dressed as SOON as you get up – unless you want to – but I personally find it very hard to not be in a bum when I stay in my pajamas! Just the simple act of washing my face, brushing my teeth, putting on contacts and getting dressed makes me feel SO much better and ready to start my day. Don’t worry about putting on anything fancy or uncomfortable – just putting on leggings and a t-shirt will do. If you choose workout clothes – my personal fave – then you will be ready for a workout later on too. Double win!
Carve out time for mindfulness in the morning
The fastest way to make sure you get nothing done all day is to go on your phone first thing when you wake up. If you have to go on at all before working, at least make sure to have a buffer between waking up and checking your phone. My morning routine consists of making my bed, stretching, meditating and eating breakfast BEFORE going on social media – it really helps set the tone for my day.
Plan your day out
Another very important part of working from home is creating structure to your day, to keep you on track in the absence of any real structure or schedule. If you have meetings online, pencil those in and then schedule your other tasks around them. If you are stuck at home but not working, create a schedule of your day, even if it just includes “home workout” and “clean the bathroom”. It may seem pointless, but it goes a long way in giving purpose and structure to your day! Don’t schedule in breaks too – for meals, social media time or other downtime activities.
Separate your “work space”
Not all of us are fortunate enough to have a dedicated work space at home. I have a desk in my bedroom, which I absolutely LOVE, but some people only have the couch or bed to work with. Whatever you have at home to work with, you can make it work as long as you create some kind of separation between that space and the rest of your room or house. Whether that means setting up your coffee cup and water bottle near you or stacking your files neatly beside your computer, make it feel like “work” instead of “chill” space. That will make it much easier to transition out of work mode when you are done as well.
Create a “to do” list and a “want to do” list
After you have created your schedule for the day with all your “to do’s”, write down a list of all the stuff you WANT to do. This can be something you have been meaning to do for a while but never get around to because you didn’t have the time to do before – anything from painting to learning how to cook or just getting through all the podcasts you have saved. Anytime boredom strikes or you need to take a pause from work, reference this list and give yourself an hour or two to dedicate to that. You will feel way more productive afterward and feel a sense of accomplishment as you check things off this list.
Plan out your meals
I love to cook and one of my favorite things about my job (for the month or so I actually got to go to work on-site) was packing my lunch and all the snacks and drinks I would be having throughout the day. I would look forward to eating what I packed and making my little matcha latte in the afternoon. Just because I am home doesn’t mean I can’t do the same thing! I don’t like to write it down or be too structured about it, but just having a general idea in my head about what I’m going to eat and when gives me something to look forward to and keeps me from eating round the clock.
Get your body moving
This one is non-negotiable – not just for your physical health but also for you mental health. I have a hard time doing home workouts and sorely miss the gym right now – going to the gym was my LIFELINE when I was unemployed – but there are always ways to get some physical activity in! My favorites are yoga in my room and long walks or runs outside. If you do like home workouts, the internet is your oyster. There are TONS of home workouts to suit every fitness level and preference on YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram. Just do a quick search, save a few you like, and pencil them into your schedule!
Leave the house (or at least your room)
On days when I am really going crazy and have nothing to do or anywhere to go, just going on a twenty minute walk helps so much with my sanity. I live in the suburbs, so I have a lot of space to walk or run outside while social distancing. If you are not as fortunate in that regard, or you are sick and can’t leave the house, then at least move into another room and hang out there for a while. Nothing will make you go crazy faster than sitting or laying in the same spot ALL day.
Journal and/or meditate
I have preached about journaling and meditating in multiple other blog posts (1, 2, & 3), but now they are more necessary than ever! Journaling will help you get your anxious thoughts out of your head and onto paper, and meditating will help you calm your mind and allow better thoughts to come into it. For tips on meditating, see this blog post.
Mark the end of your work day
If you successfully created a separate work space per the tip above, this step should be easy. At whatever time you decided ahead of time to stop working, gather up all your “office supplies” and put them away so that it no longer feels like a work space. Light a candle, put some relaxing music on, and swap out that coffee cup for wine (if you drink that is). This is also a good time to go on that after-work walk or do your at-home workout class.
Maintain a normal sleep schedule
As much as it feels pointless to wake up at a certain time each morning, it probably feels equally useless to go to sleep at a reasonable time. However, nothing could be more important than maintaining a regular sleep schedule when you are unemployed or working from home. Not only does it provide structure to your days, but it helps balance your circadian rhythm and hormone levels. The more unbalanced your hormones are, the more stressed, anxious and fatigued you will feel and the harder it will be to follow the other tips in this guide.
Start a gratitude list
As scary and uncertain as these times are, we always have a lot to be grateful for. Although I am bored at home and frustrated about the current state of affairs, I have a roof over my head, a kitchen full of food, and a job that is still paying me. Take the time to write these things down and you will be surprised at how much you come up with! Even if all you can think of is “I am grateful I am still alive”, write it down!
Check in with friends and family
Sometimes the best thing to do when you are struggling to get work done or stay sane is to call someone you love and vent or just catch up and forget about your struggles. You may be surprised at how much they can relate, and talking to them can at least help you feel less alone.
Don’t beat yourself up
If you are REALLY struggling to be productive or creative or any of the other things everyone is saying you “should” be doing with all this free time, let yourself off the hook! We are going through a global health crisis – we can’t always be DOING stuff all the time when we are stressed and anxious. If the last thing you wanna do is work, just know you are not alone. Understand your feelings are valid, even if you can’t “justify” them, and know that this too shall pass!
I hope that some of these tips were helpful – whether you are reading this now in reference to the current coronavirus pandemic or years from now when you are stuck at home for another reason. If you have any other tips I left out, please leave a comment below!
