COVID-19 has impacted everyone around the world. This pandemic has challenged us all, especially with regards to how we live and work. Many people have to balance being productive at work while also taking care of their children and practicing social distancing. With many people’s world, being turned upside down has been challenged to adapt quickly.

It is important for both our physical and mental health that we do not allow the stress from the situation to consume us. This is the time to put into place proper habits and routines that will allow us to maintain the health of our families and communities.

Some may be more challenged with this new way of living and working than others. Here are some tips that you can apply to your life that may help you during this time.

1. Taking Care of Mental Health

Maintaining mental health is essential during this time, and it is more important than ever to increase your self-care and activities that bring you a sense of calm and well-being.

Stay Connected: Social distancing does not mean social isolation. It is important to stay connected to your friends, family, and support systems using Skype, Facetime, Zoom, and any other video/chat-based options. Talking with others about your fears, anxieties can help to reduce them. You are not alone in this. 

Sleep: Make sure you are getting enough rest each day. With the extra stress, it is important to still keep a regular sleep routine. Don’t stay up all night bingeing Netflix and then start to sleep in each morning. Sticking with a schedule and be getting around 8 hours of sleep a night will boost your mental health and well-being.

Connect to Nature: Nature has been proven to help us boost our well-being. Try to get outside every day for some fresh air and to allow yourself to get lost in the trees, mountains, sky, or whatever is around you. Sit in a park and let the sunshine on you or take your work outside for a bit if weather permits. Just be sure to maintain distance from others while you are outside.

2. Taking Care of Your Physical Health

Maintaining your physical health will help to boost your immune system and help reduce the chance of illness. Moving your body can reduce anxiety and acts as an antidepressant.

Join A Program: Many people are unsure of what to do to stay physically healthy. If you feel overwhelmed and unsure or need help losing weight, you can get Bloom’s 8 Week Online Fitness and Meal Plan that you can easily access from your phone. Click here to learn more. 

3. How to Stay Productive

When working from home there are a lot more distractions, and it can be easy to lose focus and start to fall behind.

Routine: Try to create a routine that is similar to the one you would follow if you were still going to the office. Wake up at the normal time, wash your face or shower, and get dressed. Don’t get up and start cleaning the house, watching tv, or start a phone call with a friend. Create a work schedule for yourself and stick to it. This includes scheduling breaks, lunchtimes, exercise, and self-care. 

Make an Office: Set up space in your home that is your new “office”. If you can, choose a room where you can close the door to signal you are in work mode or on the phone. Remember the BBC interview where the children walked in?

Eat Like Your At The Office: It can be easy to reach for the quarantine snacks throughout the day, but this will only make you feel tired and lethargic. Be sure to stick to your regular eating schedule as to not negatively impact your mood and energy.

Goals: You may also need to re-evaluate your 2020 goals. A lot has changed since January, and therefore you may also need to re-adjust what you were hoping to accomplish this year so you can be sure to set yourself up for success. Here is a free downloadable goal tracking sheet to help you make necessary adjustments. 

4. How to Work Effectively with Children at Home

If you have children, they are most likely home with you now. It can be hard to balance taking care of your children and working, make sure you breathe and practice self-compassion. It will take some time to find your flow.

Communicate with Work: Depending on your situation it is important to let your work know what you are juggling at home. You also want to set realistic expectations for yourself with what you can accomplish within the time you have each day without burning yourself out.

Talk to Your Children: Your child will be listening to the news, and what you say about COVID-19. It can help them if you stay calm and try to minimize the fear they may feel around. Here are some tips that may help you inform your children about COVID-19.

Schedule Activities: Make a schedule for you and your children. You can schedule their activities, when they will be working on school work, and when they will be playing which will also give you time to work and do what you need to get done each day. Include them in your plan and try to stick to a routine. You can use different educational programs and YouTube videos to help them understand school concepts and also for entertainment. Make sure you schedule activities where you do things together as a family in the house, maybe game night.

Set Boundaries: Setting boundaries will also be necessary during this time. Your children may be used to your attention when you are all home together. It may take them some time to understand you are still working and not reachable (unless emergency) even when you are home (depending on their age). Teaching some independence and boundaries can be good for them, and this helps if there are a set schedule and routine put in place. 

Here are some best practices from mothers that are working from home during this time.

For me, it has been creating structure for my days or having a plan with the kid, and work. Our daily routine has changed completely, but I’ve been incorporating medication, exercise, (as usual) Breathing techniques and prayer to help with stress and anxiety. Days my husband is home, we tag team or agree that he will be with the kids during dedicated time frames.

Caterina Swaggerty, Chicago

Having kids presents a whole different dynamic to the work from home environment. I have both a 4-year-old and a 9-month old. Having a schedule is everything! I try to incorporate exercise, prepare educational projects, and learning videos the night before. I also break up my workday into two-hour blocks and around naps. Meal prepping helps too!

Tracee Tatum, San Diego

5. How to Reduce Stress and Anxiety

The world is in a bit of a state of stress and anxiety. We are all sitting in the unknown as we wait for this to take its course. We are not sure how long this will last or what things will look like when it is over. Following the above tips will help to reduce your stress and anxiety but here are a few more things that can help you unwind.

Relax: Make time for activities that help you to relax. This can be stretching, putting on a yoga video, or guided meditation. Put in the schedule activities that will help you to distress and bring your nervous system down. You can always include the whole family in this. This also a good time to treat yourself. Give more self care to your skin by downloading a free Glow guide for better skin !

Belly Breaths: When we are stressed or feeling anxious our breath gets shorter and we breathe with our chest, not our stomach. Consciously taking time for deep belly breaths (sending your breath to the bottoms of your stomach, below your belly button) will help to move your nervous system from “fight or flight” or “rest and digest” and will help you to embody more resiliency and decrease your anxiety.

Be Creative: Creativity can be a great outlet for anxiety and stress. Painting, coloring, vision boards, or knitting are examples of some creative activities you can do with your family that will help you to find a state of calm. You can get art supplies and different fun creative kits off Amazon. 

Although this time is challenging it is also an opportunity to reflect on your life. Our routines are being turned upside down and how we spend our days is changing. We have the ability to come out of this stronger than we were before. Make sure you notice the moments of connection, beauty, and humanity that are around you during these challenging times. 

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