It seems that the whole world is in a constant state of change. Not only are we dealing with the Pandemic and its health effects, many of us are now trying to create Work and Life in Lockdown, which presents its own challenges.
Even if you have worked from home before, this is different, very different.
You might be taking care of kids or loved ones. You might be trying to balance home-schooling alongside your own workload. Then bring normal household activities into the mix and you could find yourself in a space of overwhelm.
So where can you start? Firstly, think about taking on a simple time out practice on a daily basis like meditation. This helps to calm your mind and your nervous system to allow you to cope with the rest of the day. It can also be helpful as a night time practice before bed.
Want some more ideas?
Below, the Recovery Station team have shared some tips that will help you to develop and maintain a positive work/life experience in lockdown:
1. PLAN AHEAD
Be clear about what to expect in your work week ahead. If you’re juggling work and home school etc, structure your time to allow time for both to make both work and school achievable.
Plan out and prepare meals and healthy snacks over the weekend to make it easy to access healthy, nutritious meals after a long day of work and home school.
2. STICK TO A SCHEDULE
Maintaining a schedule that closely reflects your work day helps to create boundaries between work and home life.
For example:
- Set an alarm to start and finish your work day.
- Stick to your routine and ensure you get plenty of sleep.
- Pack away work at the end of the day or close the door if contained in a room/ office- so you feel like you are actually breaking from work.
3. EXERCISE EVERY DAY
Apart from the obvious physical benefits, exercise helps to lift your mood, plus it helps to minimise symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Plan to go for a walk or do something active and outdoors on your lunch break and/or at the end of your working day.
4. LEARN TO SWITCH OFF
When your work is inside your home, it is very tempting to just check that email or finish that report well after the end of the work day, which can quickly spiral into poor work/life practices.
The following strategies might help you to switch off at the end of the day:
- The food rule – use dinner as a natural work cut off point, no work (including phone calls, SMS, emails) after dinner.
- Hide your Technology / switch off notifications – if you can’t see the emails coming in you aren’t tempted to re-open your emails / get caught up in other work.
- Schedule a social call – having a planned social catch up (phone or video call) at the end of the day helps you to make the effort to finish work at your specified time.
- Book into a virtual class – it may be exercise, creative or something else, but a scheduled class after work makes you switch off and focus your attentions elsewhere.
5. CREATE A DESIGNATED WORK SPACE
If possible contain your work to a designated space. This promotes good ergonomics and prevents you from falling into the trap of your laptop moving to the lounge for continued work into the evening!
6. WEEKENDS ARE YOURS
Weekends are for fun, even if that fun is contained to your home.
7. PRIORITISE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS
Support your partners, family, friends during this time – they are probably finding this situation just as tough as you – but together you can support each other through it.
8. REACH OUT
If you feel like you aren’t coping, it’s ok to ask for help. This could be asking your partner, family, friends or reaching out to formal support services like Lifeline (13 11 14).
What about the dumplings?
Hopefully the tips above might help in developing your own Work Life Practices, but you might be wondering what this has to do with dumplings?
In addition to supporting our own team in working from home with encouraging their own work/life practices, we have developed an activity series called “The Feelgood Factor”.
This series has meant that our team can participate from their own home in group activities. We have organised pilates, art and high intensity exercise classes and yes, even dumpling making!
Take a look at a sneaky snap from the class:
Perhaps consider trying out a new hobby or cook that recipe you’ve been meaning to try for sometime. You could take some time to work in the garden or engage in some personal care.
Above all, take time to just be.
That can be one of the most challenging, yet rewarding practices to take on board, but give it a go and reap the rewards.
Until next time,
