You’ve probably heard this introduction before: “Being at home every day, especially if you’re working from home, can be a huge adjustment.” I’m here to join the faction of writers to share my little guide about making quarantine life, primarily working from home life, tolerable. For me, the change to quarantine life was minor, but I slightly modified my routine. I’m also the type of person that likes to sleep for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So trying to change my perception of what it means to be at home was pretty tricky. I’m also quite privileged that I can work from home, but the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, my friends. So, I’ve wrangled together a few tips for people who are at home, working or not, that might help keep your brain cells intact.
1. A clean space is a happy space
A clean space allows for a clear mind. If you’re working in your room like I am, make it a habit to wake up and make your bed! Yes, I said it. Make your bed. It’s super simple, but it’s a very satisfying feeling. Over the weekend, change your bedsheets! Trust me on this one. You’ll soon understand why these small changes make a difference.
Clean your desk area. Try to make it a habit to keep your desk clear of clutter. A notebook, a pen, your computer and that’s it! Clear off any cups, plates, paper, and other forms of clutter every night. Personally, when my space is cluttered, I feel incredibly anxious! My brain is scattered, and I’m scrambling around saying, I can’t find my pen, I can’t find my glasses, where are those notes I took? So for your sanity, try to keep your work area clean.
Light a scented candle. Yup, light a candle during your workday. If you don’t have a candle, use an air freshener or an incense stick. If you can, try to change the scent every day or every week.
Lastly, listen to music. Try to listen to a different album every day or opt for a genre of music you’ve never listened to before. Don’t keep repeating the same Drake album from 2015. Make a playlist for yourself for the day, and enjoy something different. If you can, take off those earbuds and listen to music out loud.
Okay, so you’re wondering, how will these little things make me feel better? The point is you want to make an effort to change your sensory perceptions of your environment. It’s a little game you can play with your mind to help make you feel like time is passing. Every day won’t feel like the same day if you’re experiencing something different. Not all of us want to bake a cake or start a Medium account. However, the little changes you make for yourself on a day to day basis can help perk up your mood and ward off anxiety.
2. Start your day with a shower
My dad likes to say morning showers are a way of cleansing your spirit. You’re removing the toxins and negative energy from the previous day before you start the current day. Before, I thought he was talking nonsense, but now I’m a believer. Don’t wait till after your first-morning meeting, or after lunch, or the end of the day. Wake up, roll out of bed, and get it done!
Even if you’re not working from home, I think this is such an important tip! A morning shower is a great place to reflect and zen out before you tackle another day. A fresh change of loungewear makes you feel cozy and ready to do whatever you want, either working or watching a show on Netflix. It just feels good to feel fresh.
3. Have a morning routine and make a daily schedule
Before I reach for my computer, I start my day with some tea. Then, I read the news or watch a little TV. Sometimes, I even stretch, shocking cause I rarely do any physical activities. Next, I try to schedule activities that I think I’ll enjoy throughout the day. The upside of working from home is knowing you can take a break and do whatever you want because you’re home. You can play a quick game of League. You can cook a nice lunch. You finally watch Maury in the middle of the day on TV. The world is your oyster! Making a schedule also helps you feel productive, even though you might not have much to do at all.
The problem with working from home is that it’s easy to be stuck at your computer from dawn till dusk. You become stuck in an endless cycle of doing the same thing every single day, and it becomes tiresome. Having a schedule gives you a sense of purpose; it also reminds you to keep your work and personal life separate.
4. Take a moment to chat with some friends
We’re expressive beings, and we need an outlet. However, I’m pleased to inform you there is a way to fill the gap during this time. It’s an ancient piece of technology that’s right under our noses, it’s a medium of communication we abandoned, and it’s called the telephone. Shockingly, our phones have this feature, and we don’t even use it, or at least not often. We’re a generation that loves to text. However, I learned from my mom that talking on the phone can be extremely therapeutic and fun! She’s been at home for the past two weeks and talks to someone different every other day. It seems to keep her happy, and she’s laughing more than I’ve heard her laugh in years! She looks younger too, and it might be more effective than botox!!
It can be with your colleagues, your parents, your school friends. Anyone! Just take some time to talk with someone using your voice! When you’re working from home, you’re stuck behind a computer all day. All you see is text! The most you probably do is cuss underneath your breath when something isn’t going right. Use your voice and express yourself a little! Be angry, be sad, be frustrated, be happy, share a laugh, a real laugh. Not just “BWAHAHA” or “LOL.” If you can, try to have the conversation away from your computer. Remove yourself from the computer screen whenever you can.
Also, remember those days when you were on the phone, and you found yourself doing random tasks? Maybe folding laundry, cleaning your carpet with the dustpan, or perhaps you were simply rolling around on your bed with your feet in the air. Those are all mundane tasks, and doing mundane tasks is an actual skill that’s good for combating anxiety. I learned this while doing a health-anxiety self-help module provided by The Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI). CCI is a clinical psychology service that focuses on conducting research, providing training, and developing evidence-based online resources to aid in improving your mental health. However, as a disclaimer, the resources offered should not be a substitution for diagnosis or act as treatment. Please remember always to seek proper diagnosis, treatment, and advice from a certified health professional. The resources provided by CCI is for information purposes only.
I learned from these self-help modules that mundane tasks can help alleviate anxiety by distracting your senses (sound familiar to my first point? It should!). Step away from your laptop and completely immerse your senses into another activity. It can be on your couch, in the kitchen, in the bathroom. Just do it!
Take Away
Whoever said staying at home is trivial is a liar. Even for a homebody like myself, the transition may have been smooth, but the routine was hard to nail down. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t nail all these points every single day. The point is you want to make your days feel as distinct as possible. You don’t need significant changes to feel like your day is worth something. I know right now it can be a bit an intimidating time, everyone is telling you to learn a new language, or learn about stocks and bonds. However, the truth is, it’s okay if you don’t want to do any of that. Every day that you wake up healthy is an accomplishment, and if you can manage your mental wellbeing at the same time, then you’re a champion in my books. So whether you’re working from home or waiting for the storm to pass, give these tips a try!
