The COVID-19 outbreak, which started in November 2019 in China, forced everyone across the world to stay locked up in their homes and to start working remotely from home. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a group of viruses called coronavirus. It is a highly contagious disease that spreads mainly through person-to-person contact and produces symptoms ranging from mild to severe such as body pain, coughing, sore throat, fever, lung damage, etc. COVID-19 was declared as a worldwide pandemic by the WHO (World Health Organization) in March 2020.
While the pandemic is still spreading and a lot of professionals are still working from home, it is important to continue to take care of your mental and physical health to avoid work-from-home burnout. Burnout happens when you face elevated levels of stress over a long period of time. Workplace burnout reduces productivity and wears down your energy, leaving you feeling helpless and resentful.
To maintain your health and to cope up with the situation for a few more months, it is essential to practice certain self-care tips on a daily basis. Here is a list of 6 such tips that will keep your energy levels high, boost your morale and help you continue to work from home until offices reopen and are up and running again.
1. Follow a routine. This is the most said and obvious advice for self-care. Just because you can work at any time, don’t! Don’t forgo your usual routine. Get up at your usual time and make sure you get ready for work just like you are going to the office.
If you’re someone who thrives in an office setting, then having a routine and following it is a must for you. You arrive for work at the same time each morning, have a predictable schedule of meetings and desk time, a lunch break, and an end to the day before dinnertime that you can usually count on. Working from home can feel the opposite of this, since without creating your own structure, you may find yourself at loose ends.
Simple things like making your bed, tidying your workspace, throwing open all the curtains to let maximum light in, having a shower and getting into clothes that help you feel put together, eating a nourishing breakfast so you have fed your brain and can think straight, is all you need to do. Weave into this routine of micro rituals to enhance your energy and focus.
2. Set boundaries between your work and home. When you’re working from home it can be easy to slip into bad habits, such as working late into the evening or not taking a lunch break. To ensure you work efficiently you need to maintain a healthy balance between work and play. Put in clear boundaries where you will be working, give yourself ‘working hours’, and make sure you do something to unwind in the evenings, too. You might not be commuting to a physical office, but it’s vital you create an environment that works for you.
3. Put some pants on! Working from home has become the new normal. It feels easy and comfortable to sit in your pyjamas or night suits and start working. However, experts recommend that you do the opposite.
Take a shower, comb your hair, maybe even put shoes on. Although there’s a perception that working from home is a daylong pyjama fest, the simple act of getting ready is a vital part of self-care and can help you transition into work easily. You don’t need to be in a full work outfit; you can still keep it casual. That’s one of the nice things about working from home. But prepping for your day is a signal to your brain that it’s not a weekend, and you’re not sick. That will get your mind ready for the workday.
4. Don’t completely stop socializing. With most of the lockdown restrictions being eased, public places like restaurants and parks are now open. While a lot of people have started stepping out and moving around, there is quite a handful that are still indoors and not moving out or socializing too much.
You might feel like your social life has been put on hold but this is not true. There are honestly hundreds of ways for you to still keep up with the social life you’ve had before. Yes, we have to maintain social distancing and stay at home whenever possible. However, thanks to technology, we don’t need to step out to socialize anymore.
Video is a saviour! Video chatting, that occasional long-distance phone call with your best friend, and playing online games can help us maintain the human contact we all need.
5. Clear your mind at the end of the day with some journaling. Writing a journal can prove to be really healing. Keep a nice pad by your bed and just pour out whatever is on your mind. You’ll be amazed at how calming it is to empty what’s in your head onto paper. A gratitude journal is a brilliant way to help you focus on the positive – more important now than ever.
6. Cut yourself some slack. Last, but not least, realize that no one is perfect. You don’t have to feel bad if you couldn’t follow your routine one day. Allow for some distractions. It is perfectly okay to take a ‘ME day’, it is perfectly okay that you didn’t accomplish anything on a given day.
Everyone needs some breaks from their hectic schedules to feel better sometimes. Just make sure that you do not beat yourself up about it and get back on track!
Continuing to take care of your mental and physical health should still remain your priority. If you are stepping out, maintain social distancing, wear a face mask and wash your hands with soap and water immediately after you come back. Consult your physician if you feel fatigued or too stressed to help you find ways to slow and calm down.
Disclaimer: This article is written by the Practitioner for informational and educational purposes only. The content presented on this page should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. Please "DO NOT SELF-MEDICATE" and seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns. Practo will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.