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For many of us, the COVID-19 pandemic is the first time we’re working from home for an extended period of time (or maybe ever). And as this new reality sets in, we are realizing we may be cooped up until the virus is contained. I, for one, will be!

As someone who worked remotely for many years (including in an apartment with roommates and an apartment with a partner), I’ve faced a wide range of challenges working from home (WFH). While friends were generally jealous of my flexible working arrangement, I found myself missing the camaraderie of colleagues and the daily rhythm of getting out of the house and into an office that was my designated work space.

So, for anyone who may be finding their coronavirus WFH situation to be less than ideal, let me share some tips and tricks that help keep me from getting too antsy!

1. Build in a fake commute

My WFH challenges have been related to the lack of variation in scenery, difficulty separating work and home life, and decrease in physical activity. To combat all three, consider replicating your typical commute, but in a way that starts and ends at home! Some ideas:

  • Walk to the subway or bus stop: If you typically take public transit to the office, you might make the same walk in the morning (and then return home), and repeat again when you’re done with work in the evening. This allows you to have a concrete window of time in between your “commutes” when you’re focused on work, just as you would be at the office, and also to warm up and wind down.
  • Take a stroll through the park: If you live near a park, take a 15-minute stroll at the beginning and end of the day as a commute alternative. If you live with a partner or roommates, ask if they might want to join you, too! Especially as spring approaches, this could be a great opportunity to enjoy the budding flowers and greenery.
  • Listen to something fun! As you take your walk, consider listening to something new. You might practice walking meditations on apps such as SimpleHabit or Headspace, catching up on the news with a podcast, listening to an audiobook, or jamming to pump-up music to jumpstart (or wind down) your day.

Commutes don’t just get you from point A to point B: they also offer an important time to plan out what you want to accomplish each day, and reflect on the progress you’ve made. Fake commuting will allow you to preserve this part of your routine, get a bit of fresh air, and set your intention for the day ahead!

2. Keep your lifestyle consistent

Whenever we’re faced with a major transition – including a change in working style – it’s easy to lose sight of things that ground us. In this moment of uncertainty, keeping pieces of our lives consistent can help us feel a bit more in control. For example:

  • Wake up and go to bed at the same time: It might be tempting to hit the snooze button when you have no place to be, but studies show, keeping a consistent bedtime and waketime is key to good sleep hygiene.
  • Regulate your diet & caffeine intake: If your new desk is the kitchen table, it can be easy to return to the fridge for continual grazing. As much as possible, try to keep your diet consistent. And, if you’re noticing you’re getting sleepy mid-day, could it be that you didn’t have your regular office coffee break? Take time to reinforce the rituals that make you feel productive, focused, and clear.
  • Move around: Steps from meeting room to meeting room or to the copier and back all add up. Without them, you might find yourself feeling sluggish. Experiment with a standing desk (a storage box works just as well!), or put in headphones to walk around during conference calls. Build in stretch breaks, to keep the blood flow moving. Take advantage of the increasing hours of sunshine with evening strolls post-work!
  • Get dressed! There are a lot of camps on this – team Professional Dress and team Comfy Clothes. In my book, as long as you are up, showered, and dressed, that hits the mark. Lingering in your PJs might be fun for one lazy morning, but you likely wouldn’t go into the office in sweats three days in a row, so rotating through your typical wardrobe might help lend a sense of normalcy.

3. Set and stick to work boundaries

With the omnipresence of smartphones and laptops, it’s easy to get trapped in the cycle of being online all the time, and this is especially true when all our work comes (and stays!) home with us. Make a plan that delineates when and where you’re working, when and where you’re not working, and try to keep the boundaries clear. Some examples:

  • Set designated “work-free” areas: You might decide to make your bedroom a work-free zone, so as not to interfere with your regular sleep cycle.
  • Distinguish work and personal apps: You even might try temporarily (or permanently!) removing work-related apps and emails from personal devices to more clearly distinguish when you’re working and when you’re living the rest of your life. If you have one laptop for both work and personal use, you can create multiple Desktop views on a Macbook, or set certain screens on your phone to only contain personal or work apps.
  • Set expectations with housemates: Gently assert for yourself and other household members when you’re focused on work by leaving the shared space or keeping a door closed if you’re not to be disturbed.
  • Catch up with friends after work: Make plans to catch up with friends after work so that you’re forced to stop working and leave the house at a particular time, and hold yourself accountable to being fully present while you’re there. If you’re practicing complete social distancing like I am, video calls are always an option!

4. Buddy work

For many of us, working from home can mean working alone, and the lack of casual social interactions really add up. To decrease isolation, consider a few options for co-working:

  • Hop on a video call with your usual desk-mate or a work pal, just to work quietly side-by-side virtually as you would in real life.
  • If you have a personal friend who has a similar working style to you, that could be a good option too, but try not to get too distracted with non-work topics during your set working time.

5. Make time to tidy your space

A good rule of thumb is to not do any tasks during the WFH day that you wouldn’t do if you were at the office. For example, it might be tempting to run a quick load of laundry or cook a hot lunch, but these small breaks add up, and blur the line between work time and home time.

Still, especially if multiple household members are working from home, dishes in the sink can pile up quickly, and shared spaces may need a deeper clean more frequently. Schedule extra time for these chores before or after work, or on the weekend so that you can face your work hours in a space that is clean, organized, and free of distractions.

6. Introduce fun activities at home

Outside of your working hours, schedule time for fun activities so that your home remains a place associated with more than just work duties. A few ideas:

  • Schedule regular workouts at home on YouTube with your roommates, partner, or friends.
  • Start a push up challenge!
  • Catch up with long-distance friends over video call.
  • Movie night at home (extra credit: pop some popcorn)!
  • Learn a new skill on YouTube, like ukulele or salsa dancing.
  • Finally start building in that daily yoga or meditation practice.
  • Start (or resume) remote therapy sessions!
  • Cooking! I love the “Cook Beautiful” recipe book, and NYTimes Cooking!

7. Be kind to yourself!

If you’re finding your creativity and productivity are suffering as a result of your routine being flipped on its head, that’s ok! Let me repeat: that’s ok. Try to communicate openly with your employer and co-workers about the challenges you’re facing; chances are, you’re not alone. If that’s not an option, and if you’re experiencing unmanageable anxiety about the virus, consider seeking therapy for a bit of extra support. Many therapists offer the option for remote therapy via phone or video call, so you can telecommute straight to session.

Whether you are working from home or not able to, please keep yourself – and those around you – healthy and safe. Practice smart social habits, get plenty of rest. And when in doubt, start again. See you on Zoom in the meantime!

Learn more about Kyisha and KV Training & Consultation

To contact Kyisha directly: kyisha.velazquez@kvtrainingandconsultation.com

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