In light of this new normal we could all use some positive tips and tools to assist while we shelter in place. Have you noticed yourself struggling to remain focused and intentional throughout the day. For many, the days are already running together. Below are a few suggestions to help cope.
1. Keep a morning routine.
Wake up at a reasonable time, brush your teeth, shower, get dressed, and eat something. You don’t have to dress in business or fancy attire (unless it helps) but changing out of what you slept in and freshening up creates a mental change and breaks the routine from the night before.
2. Schedule tasks for each day.
Sometimes the days start to run together, unless you are intentional about how you spend your time. Working from home: Make sure to factor in a lunch break and take it! Especially if you are working with children at home. This is time for a “flexible mindset”. You may need a few more breaks but try not to extend your workday by more than 1 or 2 hours. When it’s time to “leave the office”, close the laptop and turn the work phone off. It can be so easy to overwork when you work from home. Tele-schooling: If you are home from college, an online student, or in lower grades, sticking to a set time for study and completing assignments can be helpful. I know regular brick and mortar school doesn’t work this way but it’s best to schedule learning and study time for whatever part of the day that your mind is working at it’s best. Don’t overload yourself with too much work all in one day. You can complete a little at a time if you spread it out throughout the week.
3. Get fresh air.
You only have to open your window, front door, and/or back door to get fresh air. If you are an allergy sufferer, early morning or late afternoon seems to be the best times to get fresh air.
4. Do something to better yourself.
What have you had very little time to do? Learn a language? Nap? Wood carving? Create art? Read a book? Exercise? You have a bit more time now to do this for yourself. Feed your Mind. Body. Spirit. If you are with your children, you can do many of these things while they study, do a quiet activity, or take a nap themselves.
5. Connect with others.
Some people thrive with a lot of social interaction, while others may need less amounts. It’s important to know yourself and your needs for social connection. You can use everything from Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, phone, texting, and letters through the mail. You can keep in touch with parents, friends, siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, etc. If you don’t have many people to connect with in your life, there is a solution! The world wide web has positive ways to connect with others who, like yourself, want more connection with others but just don’t have many people they may know in their personal life. Facebook (personal or professional) and LinkedIn (professional) offer hundreds, if not more, of different groups. Join a group that is focused on topics that interest you or are important to you.
6. Limit your news intake and your children’s intake.
While we want to be informed, we don’t need to meditate on this all day and night because there is only but so much that we as individuals can do and can control. Find a reputable news station and choose which news hour you will listen to. Oftentimes children are in the room while we watch television. Sometimes they tune it out but other times they pick up on what is being said, our reactions, and overhear our conversation about it. Be mindful of the amount of stressful content you and your children ingest.
