7 steps to balance, while working from home

What a couple of weeks these have been! It’s hard to get away from the noise, fear and anxiety around the Coronavirus. Much of what we see and hear has to do with the pandemic and it can lead to feelings of anxiety and fear. These feelings come up when we focus on the things we cannot control. Each of us as humans can control one thing and one thing only: ourselves and our response to what is happening out there. One of the ways in which we can contribute to a quick recovery is by working from home. While some people work from home on a daily basis, crisis or no crisis, for others, it is a new adventure. As a recent inductee into the world of working from home, the biggest thing I learned is that working from home takes a LOT of discipline, more so than having to show up at work everyday. When left to my own devices, I can easily either get derailed if I’m not paying attention, or go down the rabbit hole so far, that it feels like all I do is work. In order to be most effective, I’d like to share 7 things which have allowed me to stay on track while maintaining balance. If you are a habitual “work-from-homeur”, these will likely look familiar, but I hope you walk away with a nugget or two.

1. MORNING ROUTINE: If you have a morning routine in place, follow it! Working from home is not a “hall pass” from your morning routine! You need structure, something to enable you to move effectively through your day. You can’t just roll out of bed and “onto your computer” and your emails. You need to loosen up your mind and your body. If you do not have a morning routine which works, put one together. My recommendation is to include 4 elements: Hydration, Movement, Meditation and Reading.
   
2. SHOWER & GET DRESSED: Pretend like you’re going to work and take a shower and get dressed. This will help you start transitioning from home to work and getting into the right frame of mind. Use this time getting ready as your “commute and prep” for the day ahead.
   
3. WORK TIME & BREAKS: Two key things:
1. Work in time blocks. Working non-stop for hours is counterproductive. Schedule time in your day for short breaks to refresh yourself. I notice my first day that I sat for most of the day and rarely took breaks. and you know what I found…? I was knackered at the end of the day! Your mind needs breaks to keep working optimally. Your body needs movement to re-energize, and not get all achy. Finally, your brain needs the breaks to keep focusing on the tasks ahead. If you can’t remember to take breaks, set some alarms or reminders on your phone or in your calendar.
2. Know your start and end times. if you don’t, you have the potential for work to overtake all of your time. When you work outside of the home, those lines are more clearly delineated. You need the same clarity when working from home.
   
4. MEDITATION: Make some time for “Me Time”. Since you will not have your evening commute to transition from Work to Home mode, you need a system in place to make that happen. Meditation is one good way to make that break. Even if you are doing a meditation as part of our morning routine, I encourage you to also do one in the evening. It doesn’t have to be very long, just long enough to mark the end of one part of your day and the beginning of the other.
   
5. EXERCISE: Whether it’s a walk, yoga, bike, the Mirror, whatever it is, get your body moving and sweating. That is especially important if you are used to at least some activity during the day while you are at work. We know that exercise is not only good for the body, but it’s good for the brain. Actually, much research out there shows it is very good for the brain. It helps create new connections and pumps more oxygen into the brain for effective problem-solving and memory retention. It also helps with relaxation and sleep. You can’t go wrong!
   
6. GOOD NUTRITION: Eat wholesome and healthy. I’ve been doing an experiment on myself in the last fews months. I’ve seriously cut back on simple carbs and sugar. What I have noticed, is that when I re-introduced these two things, my brain feels like sludge! I don’t think as clearly. My brain fog is tremendous and the level of inflammation it causes in both my brain and my body is off the charts. Eating healthy will allow you to keep a clear mind, keep your energy levels up and keep functioning optimally. And be careful you don’t eat simply because it’s there and available. When you feel hungry, have a drink of water. Depending on how much water you have or have not been drinking, hunger can be a sign of dehydration, so reach for a glass of water before you reach for food. Alternately, reach for raw veggies which will provide you with hydration and fill you up.
   
7. HYDRATE: Talking about hydration, don’t forget to drink. I'm not talking soda, or juice or coffee. I’m talking about good old water, whether with or without bubbles. It’s good for the brain, which is around 70% water and good for the body. Tea and Coffee are good in moderation, but they are also diuretics, so for every cup of coffee, compensate with 2 cups of water. Your body and your brain will thank you. If you are going to set some alarms on your phone to take breaks, why not make drinking some water part of that break.

What other tips and tricks have you found which work for you when working from home? I’d love to hear how you stay on track.

In the meantime, please take care of yourself and stay healthy!

_{Image by William Iven from Pixabay}