Covid-19 has left many of us with the unusual challenge of working or studying from home full time, for the first time. Here are three simple but impactful practices you can implement in your work/study from home routine to ensure that you remain productive while also catering to your mental wellbeing.
1. No, Don’t Stay in Your PJs. Get Dressed.
While it’s tempting to wake up 10 minutes before the start of our work/school day (we’ve all done that, myself included), spending the day in pyjamas can negatively impact our productivity and mental health. This is because our energy levels, motivation and overall performance are directly linked to how we feel mentally and physically. According to fashion stylist Sally McKinnon, ‘maintaining a daily routine of getting up, having a shower, and putting on a comfortable outfit is key when working from home’. It gives us a sense of purpose and acts as a signal for when we switch from sleep mode to work mode.
2. Separate Your Work Life from Your Home Life.
Working from home increases the risk of our work and home lives overlapping each other if we do not actively try to separate them. But… I’m working from home. How do I do that? A simple but effective first step would be to create a work/study schedule that has a start and end time. Any work/study for the day should be completed in those designated hours to allow us time to dedicate to our home life. Another step would be to have a separate workspace at home that is free of distractions. This does not necessarily have to be a separate room, it could even be a desk/table, or corner that we use specifically to work. Entering our workspace would allow us to ‘switch on’ for the day and leaving it would signal to us to ‘switch off’.
3. Me Time.
According to productivity and time management coach Carl Pullien, ‘me time gives your mind a chance to rest’, and with so much going on in the world, me time is more important than ever. So, if you haven’t been doing it up till now, this is a sign to start dedicating some time every day to doing what you love and what makes you happy. This could be taking up a new hobby, working out, spending time with your family or even watching Netflix (guilt-free).
All the best and stay safe!
Imaani x
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