Maintaining a Healthy Work/Life Balance in a COVID Environment

Everyone’s life has been affected by the spread of the novel coronavirus in one way or another. Whether it’s making sure you practice social distancing, self-quarantine to reduce the risk of exposure, or the nationwide closing of schools and business, COVID has impacted our lives in a way that we would have never thought possible this time last year. The new “norm” can make some feel more isolated, anxious, bored, and uncertain, along with more fears over how the virus will have emotional bearing you in the months to come. Suddenly, everything in your life looks different from the way we socialize to the way we parent. This virus has significantly altered the way we live our lives, and who knows if we will ever get back to the “normal” that we once knew. Since no one knows how long we will be in our current situation, it may be time to establish a healthy balance between home and work, especially now that both work and school are happening from the home-front. Not sure home to find and maintain that balance? Here are a few tips to help you get started.

Establish a Daily Routine

Recent studies show that since we have been on quarantine, the average workday has increased by three hours. People who are working from home are not adhering to the daily schedules they set for themselves when they were going into the office every day. Opening and closing your workday, even when working from home, is essential in helping you find balance. Get up in the morning simultaneously every workday; take your shower, grab some coffee, and make your breakfast all before diving into your work. On a normal day, we take regular breaks, whether it’s getting a cup of coffee, refilling your water bottle, or just chatting with a co-worker on the way back to your desk. Create those same habits in your home office as well; schedule your breaks and hold yourself accountable to take them. Be sure to take your lunch break, even if you use it for some exercise, so that you can break up the monotony of your day. Taking at least 15 minutes to yourself can leave you refreshed, productive, and more focused, therefore giving work your best and avoiding that afternoon slump.

Set Limitations

It is just as important to set your limitations to maintain your schedule, the two go hand in hand. Don’t overwork yourself; know when to walk away from work for the night, and don’t go back. One way to create a separation between work life and home life is to establish a designated place for you to work. Be sure to maintain the integrity of this space by generating rules for yourself and others in your home during work hours. Once you have this space, honor your work start and stop times. Consider taking a walk at the end of the day to mark the end of the workday and to help you transition back to home life. Once you turn off the computer for the day, do not return to it until the start of the next workday unless there is an emergency. FYI, checking work email before bed does not constitute an emergency……that email can wait until the morning. Learn how to put things on hold, make yourself a “to-do” list, and prioritize what matters.

Be Realistic About Your Self-Care

Making time for yourself both mentally and physically can help to prevent burnout. During this time, make sure you are being consistent about your commitments to yourself and maintaining your mental health. Remember that when you are sitting behind a computer, your colleagues can’t see that stressed outlook on your face or the overwhelming pile of papers sitting on your desk. So it is important to communicate your needs effectively with your co-workers and your family about what you have going on while being respectful of what they may have going on too. Also, make sure that you monitor your moods and emotions. Make use of the virtual resources that are available to you, such as virtual therapy, video chatting with friends, and of course, virtual happy hour.

RichLine Solutions encourages you to be strategic about your companies Crisis Intervention Plan. Connect with us today at info.richlinesolitions@gmail.com and let us know how we can make creating your plan easier. We want the opportunity to help you grow to your next level of greatness!