Working from home has a ton of benefits. Because we don’t have to waste our time traveling to work, we can spend more of our day in our sweatpants, and everything we love is right there within our reach.
But here’s the thing – when we don’t have to travel we don’t change our environment at all, when we’re constantly in our sweatpants we feel downright dowdy, and when the things we love are within our reach we’re constantly distracted.
Like the saying goes, you can have too much of a good thing. But while the pandemic lasts, most of us will have to keep working from home if we want to stay safe, so we don’t have much of a choice about how we spend our day. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean we’re doomed to burn out and feel frustrated all the time. There are plenty of ways you can minimize stress, and we’re here to highlight a few.
Find a way to get some exercise in
Exercising can feel downright transcendent when we’re stressed. As lazy and tired as this pandemic might be making you feel, exercise is a great way to actually shake yourself from that stupor and do something incredibly good for your body.
Yoga is particularly useful here because it’s a soothing, patient activity that will help you get in touch with your body and ease any back pain or muscle aches you might have developed as a result of sitting around all the time. Of course, yoga is not your only option. If you’re looking to give yourself a nice glow up and get fit, you can follow a workout plan.
Feed your brain to sharpen your focus
If you’re having trouble concentrating, then a nice snack can give you a boost. In general, it would be a good idea to lead a healthy diet if you want your mind and body to get all the necessary nutrients to feel good, but if you’re looking for a quick fix, a snack will do.
Grab yourself some brain food: a handful of nuts, a few pieces of dark chocolate, some berries, or a tasty nootropic drink that contains a blend of caffeine, vitamins, and nutrients that can improve your mental energy. Taking a break to grab a snack is also beneficial: it can give you the chance to rest your mind for a few minutes before resuming work.
Use small hacks to help you stick to your schedule
Pretend you’re going to the office to get your work done. Get up on time, and get dressed the way you would for work, and then pick a specific room or corner in your home that will be the official “work space.”
It might sound silly, but these little hacks will help your brain switch between work mode and rest mode when you’re unable to change your environment. Something as simple as washing your face and putting on a touch of makeup and a nice blouse can make you feel more alert and put together. Also, as soon as your “shift” is done, move away from the work space and go rest in a different part of your home. This will help your brain make that much-needed distinction that the pandemic robbed you of.
Start meditating
What’s more zen than meditation? Meditation doesn’t have to last a long time, and you don’t actually have to empty your brain completely (that’s actually impossible). As little as 15 minutes of meditation a day can help you center yourself and calm down when you’re feeling overwhelmed, and it will make sure you’re more aware, alert, and rested.
If you have trouble concentrating on meditation, you could light a candle to help you relax and hold your focus, or you could even follow a guided meditation track. You can check out Headspace if you want to try a mindfulness and meditation app that’s good for beginners.
Organize social events
Don’t isolate yourself more than you have to. While we have to avoid gatherings and keep socially distant in most cases, this doesn’t mean you can’t use Zoom or Discord to stay in touch with your friends. If you’re fully vaccinated and have a friend who’s also fully vaccinated, you could even organize a fairly safe meetup!
Friends and family are exceptionally important because they help ground us and remind us that we’re not alone and that we have support. So, call your loved ones regularly and enjoy their company. There are plenty of ways to have fun even if you have to be socially distant, and hanging out can remind you to laugh and stay positive.
We hope you liked our little tips. As you can see, there are plenty of ways to boost your mood and stay calm even during these stressful times, and you just have to find the one that suits you.