Finding it tough?

It would be wrong to say that working from home is always peachy, because it isn’t. There are times when you feel like you’ll start climbing the walls or just never get out of bed... And that's during the normal times, when things are going well in the world. At the moment we’re facing a pandemic and it’s harrowing, unnerving and stressful. Waiting inside can feel like torture. Instead, it can help to change your mindset, so that you're not "waiting" inside, you’re creating inside, researching inside, developing your skills inside or enjoying being inside. I have some tips which may help. As I enter my ninth month of working from home alone, I've learned the hard way how to manage distractions and loneliness. So, for anyone who may be finding this transition tough, I’d like to share these 5 simple life-savers.

1.   Divide up your space

It helps to set up physical boundaries, so that you can connect and disconnect from work. If you don't have a study, this could mean rearrangement of furniture as you find your perfect working spot. Creating your little zen where you can focus on work is so important, not just for your productivity, but also for your mental health.

Early on as a remote freelancer, I realised that working in bed meant that I couldn’t switch off at night and felt sleepy in the day. Bed = sleep, and my brain screwed itself around in circles trying to readjust. Associations are powerful, so use them in your favour. One psychologist, Maurya Glaude PhD highlights the importance of having a routine to help you focus and acclimatise your body to the new regime.

Trick your brain into following the routine and soon it'll be natural. For example, always get out of bed at your wake-up time, even if you just slump over to the sofa. It’s a small and nifty trick which will re-balance your entire frame of mind. Don’t leap straight into work, take half an hour to enjoy a coffee, listen to music or read a blog. Your life isn't work, sleep, work, sleep.... Take plentiful breaks away from your work zone.

2.   Build your new office

I love creating an office space out of nothing. It can be magical, and ever so creative. Here some ideas for inspiration to get you started.

• If you don't have a study, you could make space in your living room by moving the sofa a metre away from the wall. Snuggle up in the gap and set up your cushy work space there, ideally facing a window. It’s an intimate little den, where you can feel cosy and cocooned. You could even decorate it with fairy lights hooked up from the ceiling, or a calm translucent fabric hanging down like walls. 

• Block off your work area using plants as dividers from the rest of your space. They’ll improve your air quality and let you nurture a living thing. Plants are very versatile and can be hanging from the ceiling or in pots around you. Unleash those beautiful green fingers.

• Many people are using ironing boards to help them, you could gently rock from side to side as you work on your laptop to help burn calories and boost endorphins if you like.

3.   Exercise, especially when you don’t want to

When you exercise, your body releases chemicals known as endorphins, which boosts your mood and suppress anxiety-inducing hormones[1]. Right now, we’re facing a pandemic and living in isolation, so you may need these natural feel-good vibes. Give yourself a fighting chance and aim to go for a walk or jog in nature as often as you can.

As well as your mental health, according to Net Doctor[2] exercise will also boost your immune system. They are recommending between 30 – 40 minutes, three to four times a week.

According to the latest Coronavirus research, you can go swimming as the chlorine will kill off any lingering traces. However, you should avoid going to the gym as they are often humid, which is ripe for viruses to grow. Gyms are also not high on the sanitary list and many doctors such as Dr Tomar[3], (reporting for Yahoo!) advise against it. (Since writing they’ve now been closed). However, for now (but watch this space!), there is nothing stopping you from going out for a solo jog or walk with your cohabitant in the fresh (and getting fresher) air. You just need to maintain a distance of at least two metres from others you might pass on the way[4]… Don’t forget to wash your hands when you arrive back home again. The guidance is clear that you mustn’t linger and stop for picnics, drinks or to meet people .

4.   Cook meals, properly

 Now is a good time to get boost your immune system and get your vitamin C levels up. Eating five fruits or vegetables a day enriches your body with nutrients such as phytonutrients, antioxidants, fibres, oils and acids[5].

Cooking can also be a deeply relaxing and satisfying experience, taking the time to create healthy and delicious meals creates a homely feeling. It distracts you from the noise outside and gives you a rewarding short-term goal to focus on. So flick through some recipe books, or find some recipes online which enchant you. Wile away the time mixing, kneading, chopping or sauteing to soulful music or watching your favourite rom-com.

5.   Communicate

Most important of all, reach out and talk to people. Right now, you can’t meet a friend for a coffee physically, but there is nothing stopping you digitally. Skype your bestie, video call your family, ring your grandparents, arrange conference calls with your colleagues or join an online chatroom. 

As a writer, I’ve found that it’s very hard to focus on more stringent articles, but creative ones come very naturally nowadays. If that sounds like you, harness that and channel your words into songs, blogs, stories, paintings, art or more. There is more than one way to express yourself, and if you can’t quite face talking to people often as the days go on, let it out some other way. Stores such as The Works offer delivery options if you’d like to buy a cheap canvas and some paints. Or if you’d like to write a song, there are many ways to collaborate with a musician – Musicians Connect could be a good starting point. During the plague of the early 1600s, citizens were also isolated, and Shakespeare wrote King Lear, Macbeth, Anthony and Cleopatra, Timon of Athens and Pericles. Who knows? Maybe you could do the same.

[1] https://www.livestrong.com/article/530791-does-exercise-make-you-happy/

[2] https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/conditions/infections/a30789846/coronavirus-prevention/

[3] https://uk.style.yahoo.com/prevent-spread-coronavirus-gym-095700642.html

[4] https://metro.co.uk/2020/03/17/can-still-go-walks-social-distancing-self-isolating-12408838/

[5] https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/conditions/infections/a30789846/coronavirus-prevention/