Self-Quarantined and May Be WFH?

We are all dealing with how to conduct life as well as keeping our work routine at home where we are so distracted with all our comfortable objects around that makes our home a home. So how do we deal with it all. Here are a few suggestions I have implemented in my life that may help you or remind you of your own favorite ones.

The important thing is to stay positive, calm, healthy, happy, and active.

Dedicate a specific room or area to working or "office" I am using my dining room as my work space these days. It gives me most room to spread and work on various projects as I need to.

Make sure you have some natural light nearby. My dining room table faces the patio and I get lots of natural light and sunshine when we have some. It is keeping me connected to the outside world and a bit of nature watching my flower pots right as well. The lighting helps when I am on facetime or zoom meetings with family, friends, or on a business call.

Disconnect and take a rejuvenating break. It is really easy to sit for a long time at our office at home without moving. I actually found that I work longer at home than I did at work. My work is sitting in front of me and nagging to get done. I now schedule my breaks on my calendar and set a timer for 5 minutes doing any of the following as it feels right at the moment. Complete a short home errand (put the dishes away), walk around your house, take a Savasana, or simply take a nap. ??

Bring the outdoors in. A little bit of green is wonderful to get us connected to the nature. Succulents, ferns, aloe, a plethora of foliage will bring the nature inside.

Schedule a learning session. I am working on a couple of certificates online that I have not had time to finish. self-quarantine is giving me time to do it without feeling guilty. Schedule on your calendar an hour a day to learn something you have been wanting to learn and just did not have the time. This will keep your mind exercised and positive.

Make sure you exercise daily. Most of us used to go to the gym or take a class of some sort to keep healthy and in shape. However, now that we are at home quarantined, we do not even get the normal walk we used to get. Take 5 minutes and just stretch a few times a day. There is a lot of free classes online. I have been taking a class dancing for exercise and online yoga. My friend is teaching me longevity stick exercises on Facetime.

• Set a schedule daily on your calendar to block out a routine to exercise
• Find a workout routine that works for you; planks, lunges, Jumping Jacks, etc.

Practice Mindfulness. Practicing mindfulness during a state of worldwide pandemic may seem like a big ask, but we can all take steps to maintain a state of calm in our own minds. Different methods work for different people, so be sure to take time to discover what’s best for you to ground yourself in the present moment. Here are some ideas;

• Deep Breathing 5x three times a day with your eyes closed
• Meditate online or there are so many free Apps available, or on YouTube
• Listen to classical music or calming music with your eyes closed 5 minutes
• Put your favorite dance music and get up and dance away your worries

Stop watching the news all day long. Turn the TV off. In this case less is better. I have been keeping a sane mind by watching the news only once a day. I watch PBS NewsHour, BBC Nightly and World News, and listen to NPR once a day to keep in touch with what is new in the World.

Do not forget Music. Music has a healing power. Researchers have been using music to heal Alzheimer patients. If it is healing the ill, it must be good for health. Choose your favorite music, station, and have it on as you work or while you are quarantined at home.

Don't forget to connect with your loved ones and friends. Now that you have the time, connect with friends you have not for a while (text, email, call, facetime). Set a daily time to spend an hour a day connecting with one or more people to give and receive an air hug.

Be of service, Help someone else. I find that volunteering when I was not self-quarantined helped me keep a perspective in life as to what is important to fuss over. Now that I am working from home, I have found more time to help a neighbor by a kind word 6-feet away, ask if there is anything I can do for them, bring their paper in, make lunch for my 90-year-old friend and drop it off, or call her daily to make sure she is set and connected.

Don’t allow fear to get in. Fear is just a state of mind, if you allow it in, it will take over. Unless there is something facing you two inches away that is scary, then you can put it off until it is there. Not to say that you cannot be well prepared for the time it comes. You are already preparing well by self-quarantining. Don’t forget to Breath, it will keep you alive!

Give Gratitude. Don’t forget to concentrate on all the good things you already have in life. Give gratitude for all that it is good in life today!

• Be kind to others. Support your small businesses in your local area (order food from the local market or restaurant).
• Say “Thank You” and appreciate them as often as you find a reason. Look for those reason to be grateful for in life no matter what is going on and around you.
• Remember that self-care is a form of gratitude. Take time to practice it daily with whatever it is that brings you joy and happiness.
• Do something nice for your significant other, room-mate, or pets daily. Being around each other 24/7 is new to a lot of us that spent most of our waking hours at work with coworkers. Respect everyone’s method of handling stress. Research has shown that when we practice positive attitude and show warmth in our actions, those around us pick it up. It is contagious. One thing that I would like to get from others!

Please stay safe and healthy! I'd love to hear what is working for you?

#workfromhome #connect #coworkers #selfquaranteed #stayingalive