Working from home, taking care of yourself and finding some calm amidst the storm
Working from home, taking care of yourself and finding some calm amidst the storm
Hello. I'm Bec Sands, and I help you pivot to a career or business you love.
Usually, my conversations are all around finding clarity and making your next career pivot.
However, I can’t ignore what’s happening in the world right now, and how we’re all feeling about it. So with the global coronavirus pandemic, I wanted to talk to you about two things: working from home and finding some calm amidst this storm.
The past couple of weeks have been incredibly intense and many of us (including me) have been glued to the news. Things are moving so fast and have felt so uncertain that many have been doing what they can to regain at least a little control – namely, stocking up on toilet paper.
In Australia, we’re at a pivotal point in controlling the outbreak – as of yesterday there were 249 cases nationally, according to Health.gov.au.* While most of us are not on total lockdown, many of us who can are working from home – something I’m well versed with as a freelance consultant and coach – so I wanted to reach out, connect with you in this time when many are being socially isolated, and support you as much as I can.
You’ve probably seen a million tips about productivity when working from home, but when emotions are heightened, although the normal rules such as time batching may apply, there’s more that can be done to find some calm amidst the storm and keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Because that’s what we need to do right now – carry on with our work where we can, keep ourselves and our families as healthy as possible to either prevent or recover, and do what we can to further prevent the spread of the virus. And constantly hitting refresh on the news is tempting, but also probably as productive as scrolling social media all day.
Here’s what I’m doing to maintain some calm amidst the current storm, while working and spending a lot of time at home.
Limit social media and news checking.
Although I’m still checking way more than I normally would, it can add to the sense of alarm so it’s best to place some boundaries around it. The trick is to not pick up your phone and scroll through news or social whenever you feel the urge. Set up some boundaries that you feel comfortable with – this could mean checking three times a day.
Focus on wellbeing.
There’s never been a more important time to focus on maintaining or increasing your health and wellbeing. If you can, go for a run outdoors or do an indoor workout such as yoga. The point is that exercise will help to reduce stress and promote calm. I find that cooking also creates a sense of ease. So where I can, I’m cooking in the home kitchen and focusing on wholefoods and lots of fresh vegetables. I’m also diffusing essential oils in my home to cleanse the air and promote a sense of calm and wellbeing, as well as help with sleep.
Reduce stress.
When we’re in a state of stress, it’s very tricky to focus on getting our work done or to maintain a positive attitude. This is why it’s super important to reduce your stress when you can. In addition to exercise, I love to meditate daily (usually between two and 10 minutes), have a bath and read a book with a glass of red wine and some essential oils, read and listen to positive and uplifting books and podcasts, cook something healthy or flip through a healthy cookbook, have a chat with friends, do some writing, or watch a funny movie. These things all help to reduce my stress and can help to support you too!
While remaining alert and aware, remain positive.
Looking at the silver lining, the world has never felt more interconnected. We’re all in this together, regardless of who we are or where we come from. It’s important to be alert and aware and take the steps we need to and can around the coronavirus. However, it’s not going to help to immerse yourself in negativity. Instead, read your favourite book. Enjoy not having to commute. Celebrate how fast and efficient it can be working from home. Spend time with your loved ones. De-clutter your wardrobe when you’d normally commute. Cook something healthy. Surround yourself with positive vibes, and send positive vibes to the rest of the world too – we’re all in this together.
I’m going to link below to some further resources to support you if you’re feeling anxious during this time.
You can also binge-listen to my career pivot podcast for inspiration on your next career pivot. And if all else fails, Disney has released Frozen 2 a month early.
Sending massive amounts of well wishes during this time. Take care of yourself.
Recent blogs:
Additional resources:
Rolling updates on the Coronavirus – World Health Organization
Coronavirus (COVID-19) health alert - Health.gov.au
Tools to help relieve stress:
Spiritual tools to relieve coronavirus uncertainty – Gabrielle Bernstein
Tapping Solution Meditations – app by Nick Ortner
Note: * As at 1.00pm on 16 March 2020, there have been 298 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia. https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/coronavirus-covid-19-current-situation-and-case-numbers
