11 Tips For Easier Home Working (4 min read)
Learning to swim (not sink) when it comes to working remotely.
a selection of 11 tips to support you as you adjust being at home.
Routine - Set your routine and commit to it, then make weekly adjustments after you’ve tried it for the week. Children especially respond well to routines and so this will also help them adjust too.
Clothes - Don’t stay in your PJs (we know it’s tempting, so do it for a week if you must, then switch it up!)
Nature - Get a plant or flowers for your desk, or wherever you are working. Nature helps bring balance to your body and helps reduce stress, inspires creativity and productivity. We recently came across The Sill for home delivery of plants in the U.S. It’s time to create that indoor garden. Share photos with us on instagram and tag us @birchcoveco. We would love to see, and you’ll inspire people.
Exercise - Schedule a non-negotiable exercise session in the morning, or at some point during the day to fit with your schedule. Choose the time and commit to it daily. The movement and regular time will be beneficial in processing and releasing emotions, it will help fill your cells with oxygen, and keep those limbs moving releasing aches and pains as you go. It works really well to find a friend and commit to doing it together. You don’t have to be on the phone with each other, you just commit to the time each day and text each other before and afterwards. If you want to double up with us, we are doing the Yoga with Adriene, 30 day challenge everyday at 9am ET. Details posted to instagram @birchcoveco.
Meditate & Breathe - If you meditate, build it in daily. If you don’t meditate, try it. Now is the time, and you might discover something new you enjoy. Try the Calm app to start you off on the right track, they also have a super selection of sleep stories for both children and adults.
Sugar and Coffee - Reduce processed sugars and coffee intake - yes we know this is an eye roll moment, but your body with thank you and it brings anxiety down, it also allows you to begin recovering from any inflammation in your body, and it supports your immunity. If you’re struggling to break the habit, find a tea that appeals and swap your coffee time with the new tea (this Sweet Rose tea helped us transition), drink water with freshly squeezed lemon juice in it, and when you feel the sugar craving coming on, eat a spoonful of honey or dried piece of fruit like a date or fig to move sugar cravings on.
Perspective - Work from different spots in your home if you can. This will change your perspective and give you new ways of thinking about things.
Breaks - Take regular breaks and do something different - cook dinner early, read a chapter of a book, watch an episode of your favorite show (when have you ever had the change to watch your favorite show on a week day during the week. Indulge yourself, you’re allowed. Doing things you find fun is more important than you might realize at the moment, especially for emotional well-being)
Compassion - Be gentle with yourself - and others. Finding a routine takes time and especially if you are also responsible for home schooling children now and working too. This is the time to learn compassion and kind self-talk.
News Diet - Reduce obsessive news reading or social media swirling (i.e. sending and engaging in content about what’s currently going on, without careful thought about the origins). When you feel the urge to dive into the news, explore the Good News Network, or google positive inspirational quotes and soak into those instead. You need to learn to rewire your brain into positivity. This will allow your problem solving and decision making to me more effective and impactful. If you habitually read the news at say lunchtime, replace that with a new routine, read a book, watch a show, do a sudoku, find something that puts you into rest mode not anxiety mode.
Finding a balanced amount of news intake is important in all of this, choose one or two reputable news outlets and choose a limited amount of time that you spend on them, remove alerts from your phone, and take back control of when you choose to digest news.
Be aware of how you respond to what you are reading too, particularly if children are around you, they are susceptible to absorbing cues and can pick up on negativity in adults more acutely, which can affect behaviors, increase their stress and anxiety, and even impact their sleep routines. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (nctsn.org) has a variety of resources, as well as a fact sheet to help parents talk with children about what is going on, or how to recognize if children are experiencing stress.
Connect - Write down the name of 3 friends, family members, or colleagues each day and call or text them at some point during the day with a message of “just checking in on you, how are you today?” The important point is to reference ‘today’, since we are currently learning to live day by day at the moment. The question of ‘how are you’ can be wide and too overwhelming, but asking about today, creates space to answer.
