Everyone across the globe is struggling to figure out how to navigate through the new normal and maintain a balance.
People who have had the option of working from home are now joined by those who have been forced to work from home because of the pandemic. People feel trapped under the heap of tasks, like keeping children entertained when they aren’t helping them with online classes.
When you work from home, physical boundaries between work and personal life start fading away, and we find ourselves torn between the two. Despite how organized you are, it can be challenging to manage your career and household in the same space. The disruption of not physically seeing colleagues, friends, family, and uncertainty can lead to burnout and anxiety.
Working from home is going to be with us for quite a while, but here are some tips to better integrate the different facets of life:
- Start your day with things that do not revolve around work and make you feel relaxed before the work hour kicks in like a coffee ritual, 10-15 minutes of yoga or a walk.
- Avoid waking up to check work emails as it can cause discomfort or tension.
- Slip out of your comfortable sleepwear and get dressed – it will give you a sense of working in the office.
- Maintain a designated workspace that separates work from personal chores. Keep the doors shut to avoid distractions.
- Set a time to focus on specific tasks and stick to it. Do not let household chores interfere with the time allotted for work. Use a timer or block your calendar to manage distractions.
- Avoid non-essential activities like scrolling through social media and seek your partner’s help in household chores.
- Take breaks to prevent feeling overworked. Get up every hour and stretch or walk around.
- Close your laptop and call it a day after a specific time, especially on weekends and holidays. Being available every time sets an expectation and diminishes the work-life balance.
- Connect with co-workers through tools like Slack/Teams/Phone/Zoom to effectively communicate and avoid a disconnect in the work structure and team.
- Spend 5- 10 minutes to talk with colleagues about non-work events to build a connection with them.
- Carve out time for yourself. Call friends and family, spend time with them, or indulge in a hobby.
- Watch entertaining content and limit news consumption. Listening to negative news can elevate your anxiety and let your mind wander when required to focus.
WFH does have some benefits – less time spent in the car, more time spent with family and more flexibility in creating a work schedule. So optimize those hours for things like exercise, cooking meals and give yourself a break from the computer screen.
Develop a transition period of at least 30 minutes between ending work and starting your chores. Have a cup of tea, step out for fresh air, explore the JoyScore app to let go of some steam, relax and engage yourself in mindfulness with meditation, doing stretches, learning new nutritional facts, and the list goes on.
Any change requires time to adjust. Maximize the positive lifestyle benefits of working from home. As you adapt to this change, spend more time on the JoyScore app as it will help you calm your mind and improve your life’s Joy Score.
