During this unprecedented time, most of us find ourselves having to cope with the complete disruption of our daily schedules. Some of us may be working from home and trying to adapt to this change. At such times it is natural to feel lost, frustrated, helpless, and a range of other emotions. Here are some things you can do to make the process easier and bring in more stability to your workday.
Follow a schedule
Having a routine and sticking to it will give you a structure and help you feel more in control. If you had specific work hours in the office, try and follow those. You could also set a start and end time for yourself and stick to it on a daily basis as far as possible.
Have a designated work spot
A designated workspace with fewer distractions can help create a boundary and make working easier. Find some space in your home that lends itself well for work, somewhere you will be comfortable sitting for long periods of time.
Take breaks
While working with coworkers and in a group, we tend to take regular, small breaks. Ensure you do this at home too. While checking social media or the news can be one of the ways, also take breaks that are not technology/screen driven. Get up, stretch, walk around, get in some movement.
Dealing with procrastination
There are dozens of other things that you could be doing at home and not procrastinating work can be much harder. It can help to create a to-do list the previous day with a realistic list of things you want to accomplish. Prioritise your tasks and break them down into smaller steps. Assign a time period for each. It is also beneficial to start your workday with the thing that you enjoy the least/find difficult and get it out of the way. Remember to account for possible distractions and plan how you will deal with them.
Ensure that you disconnect
The absence of a change in the scene and usual rituals like packing up and commuting home can make it more difficult to truly disconnect from work. Many people also worry about maybe having not done enough, or use their free time to complete some more work. It’s important though that you stick to your end time (if you can) to prevent feeling burnout.
Coping with emotions of isolation/loneliness
This is a sudden and enforced change. As the initial relief of not having to commute, being at home and the like reduce, it’s natural to also bring up feelings of isolation/loneliness. This can be especially pronounced if you are currently residing away from family. Acknowledge these difficult emotions and let yourself experience it. Use technology and find other ways to stay connected socially.
Lastly, these are unusual circumstances and you’re dealing with a difficult situation that is bound to affect you in different ways. It’s understandable that your work is going to be affected too. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you feel like you’re not being as productive as before. Take care of yourself and reward yourself for whatever you accomplish.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you can call iCALL for professional counselling and emotional support. Our details are as follows:
Call: 9152987821
Email: icall@tiss.edu
chat: download nULTA app
Timing: Mon-Sat 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
References:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/digital-leaders/202003/5-tips-working-home-amid-covid-19
is a psychological helpline that aims to provide high quality telephone counselling and internet based support services which will significantly improve mental health and the well being of individuals as well as the community.
