Working from Home & Self-Care
Hey there! How has life been for you since we last connected here? I pray it has been peaceful and exactly what you need in this season. In my previous post, I wrote about the current pandemic and how we’ve all been affected in some way. For many of us, the way we work has changed significantly – whether working on the front lines or from home. I’ve personally been working from home for a little over two months now and have finally settled into a nice rhythm.
Working from home was a challenge for me early on, however. One specific thing that made it challenging in the beginning was not having a dedicated office space or the equipment that I typically have access to in the office. After a few weeks, it became difficult to work solely off of my laptop and from my couch or kitchen bar. In addition to the physical challenges of working from home, my workload and work hours significantly increased. This went on for a few weeks, and it wasn’t long before I experienced an emotional breakdown due to stress. Following that experience, I realized that I was going to have to create structure around my work days and set boundaries in order to regain balance, establish a consistent flow of productivity, and maintain a healthy state of mind.
The first thing I did was schedule some time off following the completion of one of my project milestones. I knew that in order to avoid completely burning out it was essential for me to take some time off to recharge and care for myself. Next, I inquired with my co-workers about options for securing a computer monitor and learned that I was able to order one and have it shipped directly to my house courtesy of my company. So that’s exactly what I did! Next up was finding a small desk to purchase for my apartment, because working from my couch and kitchen bar was also starting to take a toll on me physically. Fortunately, I didn’t have to buy one, because one of my friends loaned me the perfect size fold up table – which functions perfectly as a desk!
The next thing I prioritized was creating a peaceful working environment, and for me this starts with a clean and organized work space. I also love natural light, so the first thing I do every morning is let my window shades up, allowing the sunlight to radiate throughout my apartment. I also open my windows, if it’s not too hot, to enjoy the sound of water flowing through the fountains outside of my apartment. I also enjoy listening to soothing music throughout the day. My go-to’s are instrumental jazz, R&B, or worship music, but every now and then I turn on some hip-hop or upbeat music to get in the zone!
The last thing I did was create structure around my days. I began blocking time off for breaks to eat lunch, go for walks, work out, catch up with a friend or loved one, run errands, or just sit and clear my mind. I also began logging on and off for work at decent hours. Yes, things had become much busier at work. However, some of the long hours were self-inflicted, because I would try to tackle assignments as soon as they were given to me. But I had to come to the realization that I’m literally one person and couldn’t accomplish all of the things that were coming at me in one day. So I began explicitly asking my managers and teammates, “By when do you need this completed?” I soon learned that most things weren’t needed the same day or even the next day – which allowed me to better prioritize assignments and regain some of my personal time in the mornings and evenings.
Making these adjustments helped tremendously, but I was still growing mentally fatigued. My time off was right around the corner, but I needed to do something in the interim to care for myself. That particular week, I had a full Saturday planned with my friend who lent me the desk, but I ended up cancelling the morning of because my body was screaming out for rest. I felt bad for cancelling last minute. However, I had to be honest with myself and honor what my body needed at the time; and my friend was more than understanding. Shortly after making that call, I went out to grab a few groceries, a face mask, Talenti ice cream, wine, and flowers.
Once I returned home, I put my phone on do not disturb and relaxed that entire day. It was exactly what I needed to get me through a couple of more weeks before my scheduled time off. In the meantime, I continued to implement the practices mentioned above. Fast forward, I took a Friday and Monday off and had a four day weekend to love on me. This entailed doing things that I enjoyed and re-energized me. I got lots of rest, spent time outside, worked out, read, watched several episodes of “This is Us”, and worked towards some personal goals. It was a balanced weekend of rest, fun, and productivity; and I entered the following work week feeling rejuvenated with a much clearer mind.
I’m not sure what your experience has been like, if you work from home. However, in speaking with several friends at different companies, the spike in workload and longer work days seems to be a common theme. If this has been your experience, I encourage you to evaluate your current situation and figure out what adjustments you may need to make to improve your situation and overall well-being. Invest in the tools you need. Establish a routine that works for you and stick to it. Be sure to listen to your body and monitor signs of stress. Take time to take care of yourself – mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Prioritize and set boundaries. Ask for help when needed. Schedule time off and don’t feel guilty about it! If you want to take time off to do absolutely nothing, you’re entitled to that 😉
If you’ve been working from home lately, I’d love to hear about your experience. What’s been working well for you?!
Imanne
P.S. If you’re an essential worker who’s been required to work on the frontlines throughout this pandemic, I want you to know that you are so valued and appreciated. Thank you for all that you do!