As we find ourselves trying to adjust to the new normal, the days seem to drag out as boredom sets in. Our routines have been interrupted, as we wait to resume back to life as we used to know it. However, life is not on pause, during this downturn here are some steps to follow that are beneficial for mental, physical and emotional health, all while keeping us motivated and productive.1
KEEP YOUR ROUTINE
According to experts, sticking as closely to your daily routine as possible is key. Go through the same motions as you would if you were going to your office. This includes getting up at the same time, taking a shower, getting dressed and making breakfast. Plan out your day to ensure to get through your task list.
SET BOUNDARIES
Dedicate an area of your home to become your office space that is free from distractions. This will help you compartmentalize and associate work tasks to this area of the house. Separate other areas of the house for family time, exercising, meals and relaxation. By keeping areas dedicated with specific purposes, it will help you focus and keep you in a routine.
SCHEDULE BREAKS & STAY ACTIVE
Breaks are important to keep you moving and nourished. Working from home requires a lot less movement and it is easy to get stuck in the same spot for the entire day. It is recommended to schedule breaks into your calendar like you would a meeting. Allocate the time for exercising, meals and to stretch2. Many local gyms are streaming free classes online with Instagram “Live Stories”. If the time of the class doesn’t work for you, the great feature about “Live Stories” is that it stays online for 24 hours. This way you can schedule it into your day that works best for you.
TRY SOMETHING NEW
Take this opportunity to do the things that you have been putting off. Our industry experts have put together a number of resources online so you don’t miss a beat. There are various courses you can take and receive CE credits for. Or you can embrace the opportunity to learn new skills such as social media, marketing workshops, photography, telehealth, etc. that can help you prepare to adapt your business during this changing landscape.
2020 Accredited CE Courses
https://www.2020mag.com/education
Social Media Courses
buffer.com/library/marketing-courses
diygenius.com/10-free-online-courses-in-social-media-and-inbound-marketing/
Nikon’s free photography classes
https://www.nikonevents.com/us/live/nikon-school-online/
Online Tools for Learning a New Skill
https://www.allconnect.com/blog/online-tools-for-learning-new-skills
CONNECT
Despite these uncertain and stressful times, connecting with people is exceedingly important. Social isolation brings a longing for human connection. With the public safety measures being put in place, people have had to adapt and become creative in their approach to socializing. Connecting digitally with video chat has become the main source of communication.
There are many free services you can utilize to stay with your team, family, friends and patients. Video chat is a great digital platform that allows you to see, connect and interact with people while maintaining necessary precautions. It is important to stay connected with patients, to see how they are doing, to let them know you are here for them and inform them how they can get in contact with you. Here are three free video chat options to choose from.
- Google hangouts
https://gsuite.google.com/intl/en_ca/products/meet/
- Microsoft Teams
https://products.office.com/en-ca/microsoft-teams/group-chat-software
- Zoom
STIMULATE YOUR MIND
It is just as important to stay active mentally as it is physically. Rest your eyes to avoiding screen time by switching out watching TV for listening to music, a podcast series or audio books. Music is not only therapeutic but mentally stimulating5. Listening to music, depending on how you listen to a playlist or different genres, triggers the production of various hormones in the brain6 to stimulate specific areas. Studies show that music can help reduce anxiety, blood pressure, pain and stress. It can also improve sleep quality, mood, mental alertness and memory7.
RELAX
It is equally as important to take your mind off the stress of things that are beyond our control. Find ways to relax and have fun. Don’t let self isolation stop you from having a social life. You can enjoy most of the activities you would do normally, now from the comfort of your own home!
Many famous musicians and artists are holding free concerts on social media. Artists from all genres from country to hip hop, R n’ B, jazz, opera & even the symphonies are streaming live concerts! Check out the links before for a list of available concerts. Even Andrew Loydd Webber is taking requests from fans on Instagram!
https://www.vulture.com/2020/04/all-musicians-streaming-live-concerts.html
https://www.cnet.com/news/every-livestream-concerts-coronavirus-shutdown/
Want to dance? DJ’s from around the globe are holding live music mix parties for that virtual in-home club experience. Depending on you taste in music or mood, your preference of DJ will change, but to help get you started, here are a few suggestions.
https://www.instagram.com/questlove/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/djpremier/?utm_source=ig_embed
https://www.instagram.com/djalvpapercrown/
https://www.instagram.com/dnice/?utm_source=ig_embed
https://www.instagram.com/djtonytouch/?utm_source=ig_embed
https://www.instagram.com/cosmobaker/?utm_source=ig_embed
Cirque du Soleil has a free a “content hub” section where you can view hour long specials of their performances.
https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/cirqueconnect
Museums, zoos and theme parks around the world are all offering virtual tours of their exhibitions. This is an amazing chance to see iconic works of art without leaving your home let alone your city! Included in the list is The Louvre in Paris, The Guggenheim and MoMA in New York City, The Getty Museum in LA, the British Museum in London, The Vatican Museum in Vatican City & even Walt Disney World! Click the link below for a complete list.
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/travel/a31784720/best-virtual-tours/
You can still enjoy a movie together with Netflix. They have added a feature where you can get together with friends for a Netflix party to share the movie experience.
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/netflix-party-watching-tv-and-movies-with-friends-/1100-6474858/
What is most important at this time is to stay positive, work together and keep busy. They key is to maintain a routine while keeping healthy physically, mentally & emotionally. Change can be scary, especially when it is unfamiliar. As things shift, we need to embrace, evolve and learn to adapt in order to move forward. Take this time to learn new skills or programs that will be beneficial for your business or career. Remember to stay connected to friends, family, team members and patients. Engage with the people around you to include them in your virtual social life. There is an unlimited amount of resources available online to stay healthy, have fun and relax. Together we will get through this. Stay home and stay safe.i
1 https://www.cnet.com/how-to/quarantine-is-a-challenge-when-you-live-alone-here-are-5-ways-im-coping/
4 https://www.lifesize.com/en/video-conferencing-blog/video-conferencing-statistics
6 https://bebrainfit.com/music-brain/
7 https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/keep-your-brain-young-with-music
