August 27, 2020

Quarantine Survival Strategies for Work

Like most of you, I struggled a lot in the first couple of weeks of quarantine with work. Today, we are going to explore some strategies that have worked for me and others.

Put it away.

At the end of each work day, I put it all away. Even if I work from home that day, when I'm done, I pack it all away. It is part of an end of the day ritual that allows me to take my home back and make it my home again and not my work place anymore.

Set a Time and be Done.

Especially when you work from home it can be easy to work more than is good for you. Decide before the day begins when you will end the work part of your day. It is important not to end when a certain list of tasks is done as the day could add delays and roadblocks to those tasks and leave you working hours longer than you would have if the office was open.

Get Comfortable.

If you are working from home do you have the chair you need? If not, it's probably time to get it. We were already living very sedentary lives before this started now many of use have forced ourselves to sit in chairs that were not designed to have us sit there for eight hours a day. If you have to do it, be comfortable.

Get Up!

It is really tempting to move from meeting to meeting without getting up in between. But is really important that you do. I have started walking around the building for a few minutes between sessions to help with blood flow. And I can't tell you how helpful it is to go outside, even it if it is just for a few minutes. Get up, walk around, get more water before the next one starts. If you need to add time in the schedule for it, that's ok. This one is super important.

Celebrate Wins!

Did you get a sale? Did you close a deal? Did a client tell you they don't hate you? Just because you may be away from your coworker doesn't mean you can't talk about it. Tell the friend at work, tell your partner, tell your dog! Take a victory lap around the room. Do whatever you need to do to enjoy the feeling.

Ask. For. Help.

Honestly, this one goes for work and for home but this one smacked me in the face recently. I have to practice at asking for help under normal circumstances and working in isolation has probably made a lot of feel like we need to be even more self sufficient. I had a small crisis within my business and I had to ask for help no joke about seven times in one week. It was as if the universe really wanted to make a point with me. When I shared the experience with some friends they all agreed that for a lot of reasons asking for help lately has been particularly difficult.

There was no way I could have solved the problem on my own. I needed the help. It made me feel vulnerable when I did it. But it worked! Within days I went from feeling fearful, isolated and helpless to relaxed (at least about one thing) and VERY grateful. Do not deprive yourself of that goodness.

As always, I’m here.  If you are ready to work on having the life you want, call me and let’s get started!

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