January is always tough month.
Throw in a pandemic, a national lockdown & short, cold wet days & you have a relatively bleak combination. Add on top of this that you suddenly find (for some) that you are either still working from home since March 2020, or you have been sent home for the third time since March 2020; & you’ve got a reasonably difficult situation to fathom your way through.
The greatest challenge the Covid19 pandemic has given us all, is the inability to be around other humans.
We are by our nature, sociable & interactive creatures who thrive on physical connections with other humans. Take away our ability to socialise, see family & friends & then take away our workplace & you find yourself spending a lot of time with well… just You.
Therefore, during these tough times, how can you make sure you are taking care of your mental & physical wellbeing, whilst also striving to be productive & remain focused on your work?
Virtually Smart have gathered some ideas to help you remain focused while working from home.
Nature & Light
Any gardener will tell you how mentally & physically relaxing being in a garden can be. Being surrounded by fauna & flora, observing the seasons, watching plants grow & flourish, being immersed in nature & natural light, is naturally uplifting.
Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a garden & unlike the first Covid 19 lockdown, we don’t have the luxury of long hot days.
Natural light not only helps us stay physically & mentally healthy, but it is specifically good to get your eyes away from artificial light when using screens to work.
Getting enough natural light can prove difficult in winter as daylight & normal working hours are roughly the same.
Therefore, how do we make the most of nature & natural light during this time of restrictions, & limited daylight?
- Try to plan your day so that you can make the most of the little natural light. If possible get outside around lunchtime, even if it’s only for half an hour, as this is the time when we get the most direct light.
- Think about the places in your home which get the most natural light at this time of year and at different times of the day. Move around your home throughout the day as you work to capture as much natural light as possible.
- Bring the outside in. Consider changing your screen saver to a picture of a favourite natural space.
- Green up your environment whether its plants, flowers, or a small pot of herbs. Humans are designed to respond positively to plants which not only make us relax but of course purify the air in our spaces whilst providing an oxygen hit.
Finally, remember that in every way lighter days are coming, & be kind to yourselves.
Co-working spaces
During this latest national lockdown, Co-Working spaces have been identified as an essential way for those needing a working space, to find a fully serviced working environment outside of the home. Covid Secure Co-Working spaces are giving thousands of employees working from home, an opportunity to escape the walls of their home & safely find ways to utilise these very valuable service’s.
Despite social distancing regulations, wearing of face coverings & deep cleaning procedures being in place; other people work in Co-Working spaces & it therefore helps to feel part of a working community, even if you are spaced four metres apart & cannot sit & have a chatty coffee break. Simply working in a space with other people, can help alleviate pressure & tackle the issue of isolation sometimes felt by home office/home based workers.
Social Media Forums & groups
Social media does have great benefits. If you are working from home, it can sometimes become isolating & lonely, which can be as damaging for some as depression, anxiety or stress.
Therefore, connecting to like-minded people through forums & or groups on social media platforms, in moderation, can be a way to share ideas, ask for advice & simply feel like you are part of something & not alone.
Written by Katy-Jane Mason & Tiffany Anderson on behalf of Virtually Smart.
