Self-care strategies for working from home

If you started working from home this week you now have a couple of days under your belt figuring out the logistics for connecting with your colleagues. You are hopefully practicing good work habits and maybe have taken a tip or two from my last blog post. As you settle in you may start experiencing new challenges. I have personally started to feel more anxiety in the last few days as the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve and medical and economic projections are published.

I frequently have to remind myself about the importance of self care and have post-it notes up in my home office reminding me to breathe, take breaks, and make time to have some fun! Taking those personal post-it notes a step further, I have written down ten ways to ensure I am focusing on my mental and physical health in this difficult time.

1. Stick to a personal daily process and schedule that is similar to my ‘business as usual’
2. Stand up and move around for a minute every hour (my watch reminds me, or try Siri, Alexa, or Hey Google)
3. Control the trips into the kitchen to hang off the fridge or peruse the pantry throughout the day. I try to maintain a regular eating schedule with healthy meals and snacks
4. Practice square breathing when I become anxious but cannot step away for a few minutes to reset my brain
5. Meditate at least once per day (morning and night is even better for me!)
6. Get outside to walk the dogs every day. Speaking of my dogs – I am smothering them with love these days. I continue to be amazed how far this small act goes for my mental health!
7. Drink plenty of water throughout the day
8. Write down three things I am grateful for morning and night
9. Turn off the screens 60+ minutes before bed and read a book to wind down
10. Text, phone, and facetime with my friends and family. I check in with my parents every day and a few friends each day
    

I’m also starting to think about what new skills I want to learn. I think I’m going to use video tutorials to learn how to sew in the evenings because there’s no time like the present. I also have fitness instructor friends who are posting at home workouts on social media that I am trying to work up the nerve to start trying.

My employer also has a robust employee and family assistance program (EFAP) that I am keeping in mind in case I need to reach out for help beyond the above strategies. Now is the time for our communities to pull together (while practicing social distancing!) to get through this difficult time. I am focusing on taking care of myself so that I can effectively be there for my  teammates, family and friends.

Does anything in this list surprise you or spur a flight of ideas on what you can do in the coming days and weeks? Get creative and stay positive with the tactics and activities that you employ to get through these difficult times.