Working from home doesn’t mean maintaining a “life balance” goes out the window. This week, Jaylene Perez is sharing four productivity and general wellbeing hacks that are helping her stay balanced and stress-free while hunkering down at home.
As an introvert who’s been working from home for almost a year, I wasn’t too worried about what “social distancing” would mean for me. But three weeks in and I’m really starting to miss my usual work spots, like Starbucks and my local library. It’s only now that I’m realizing how important the outside world is to my work productivity, and I’m sure many others, especially those who aren’t used to working from home, are in the same boat.
But, after a few weeks, I think I’m finally starting to get the hang of what it means to truly “work from home.” To see what I’ve been doing to stay on top of my tasks and keep the stress at bay, just keep reading.
And remember, this is a time of anxiety and uncertainty for all of us, so it’s okay if you’re not at your most productive. Be easy with yourself and just take it one step at a time.
1. Keep your space tidy
I live with my parents and three brothers, so with everyone staying at home, there’s been less usable space to work without distractions. I figured it was time to unearth my old high school desk, which has been living in the corner of my bedroom over the years and primarily been used as storage space for notebooks, novels, and other miscellaneous items.
An entire afternoon was spent reorganizing my books, clearing the top of my desk, adding a candle and a few fake plants—they’re the only kind I can keep alive—and, honestly, it’s made a huge difference. There’s nothing like a good spring cleaning to clear your space and your mind, and you get to enjoy the fruit of your efforts (i.e. a clean workspace) right away.
Inspirational quote by the one and only Toni Morrison.
If you need some decluttering inspiration, one of my favorite approaches is Marie Kondo’s KonMari method. She has a couple books, as well as a binge-worthy Netflix series called “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo,” and I can’t promise that you won’t be itching to do some serious Pinterest-level reorganizing after you’re done watching.
2. Stick with a morning routine
With everything that’s going on, it’s been hard not to feel like everything is completely out of our control. But that’s not necessarily true. Maybe we can’t dictate what the next news headline will be, but we can control how we start our day. And it might seem small, but every little practice that helps with your mental health during times like these is important.
I’ve talked about the importance of creating a routine for yourself while working at home before, and it’s definitely something I’m starting to be more diligent about over the past few weeks. It’s very easy to let everyday feel like a lazy Sunday when you technically don’t have to get out of your pajamas, as I’m sure most of you have realized by now. But, I’d encourage you to continue doing the things you’d normally do during the work week.
I usually start my day by drinking a tall glass of water, rolling out my yoga mat, and doing a simple 15-minute practice. It helps to ground me after getting out of bed, and because it’s been a part of my routine for a while now, it really preps me for the rest of the day.
3. And an evening routine
What’s been even more important (and harder to implement) than my morning routine has been my evening routine. I’m a self-diagnosed insomniac and the last few weeks haven’t been all that kind to my sleep. On the days when I’ve only been able to get a few hours of shut-eye, it’s much harder to focus and get motivated to do anything that requires a lot of brain power.
If you’re in a similar situation, the best solution I’ve found is creating a bedtime routine that you practice every night. Repetition is key so that your body can learn the different signals that mean it’s time to sleep. Part of your routine could be journaling before bed, lighting a candle and dimming the lights an hour before bedtime, or taking melatonin supplements.
Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone in our bodies that preps us for sleep, so supplements can be an effective way to bring your sleep back to a normal schedule. If you can’t get your hands on melatonin though, you can also try an herbal tea, like chamomile or valerian root. Everyone’s different, so just experiment to see what works for you. What matters most is that you’re taking care of your physical and mental health by getting all eight hours in.
3. Remember to take breaks
If I’ve discovered anything over the past three weeks, it’s the importance of staying grounded within myself and the world around me. It’s hard not to be completely glued to the news lately and there’s plenty of Zoom meetings to attend, but try to set aside time to participate in something that can get you out of your head and away from a screen.
Maybe that means taking an evening walk (if it’s safe to do so), or meditating for a few minutes each day—the Calm app is a great place to start and there are plenty of free guided meditations on Youtube. You can even use cooking as an excuse to take a breather and reset; there’s plenty of opportunity for meditative thinking while you’re standing in front of a chopping board or baking your favorite cookies.
Be intentional with your actions, and use this time to slow down and appreciate what you do have. I know it’s helped bring a little bit of clarity and peace to my day.
Those are just a couple ways I personally have been tackling this whole situation, but I’d love to know what you guys are doing during this time at home!