The coronavirus pandemic has forced us all into unusual and unfamiliar situations. As humans, we generally live social lifestyles. We go to the gym, meet up with family and friends, and travel. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many such activities to a screeching halt.

This transition to life under quarantine hasn’t been easy for most people. Even those who are not sick or caretaking still may find themselves struggling — to learn how to work remotely, stay strong, and stay in communication with family, friends, and colleagues. Living and working under these conditions can be challenging when it comes to staying healthy, balanced, and focused.

Staying Healthy

Being in isolation can wreak havoc on our physical and mental health. It’s important to keep these things as priorities, especially since one day seems to blur into the next. This can lead to a sedentary lifestyle and create health issues.

• Eat healthily. Now’s a great time to pull out your old cookbooks or look up new recipes online. Focus on eating cleaner and preparing food yourself. It’s OK to get takeout occasionally to support local businesses during this difficult time, but don’t let prepared foods dominate your diet. It’s easy to gain weight when you’re cooped up, and that could impact other areas of your health.

• Stay hydrated. Now’s not the time to let yourself get dehydrated. Having enough water is part of staying healthy, which should be a paramount concern for everyone at this moment. Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day.

• Keep exercising. You can’t go to the gym or attend fitness classes, but you can walk, jog, jump rope, go for a bike ride, or do yoga, to name a few activities. If you live in an area where it’s hard to maintain social distancing outside, pull up YouTube videos, or even drag out those old exercise DVDs. It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you stay active. (Even doing brief exercises during your workday — drop and do 10 pushups, run in place for 5 minutes, or do some squats — every bit will add up.)

Watch your mental health. It’s easy to become depressed in isolation, so be sure you take care of your mental health, too. Take breaks to indulge in activities you enjoy, from gardening to sudoku puzzles to people-watching from your porch. And stay connected with your world: Pick up the phone, connect via FaceTime, or schedule virtual chats with those important people in your life.

It’s easy to neglect ourselves when in isolation. Make a concerted effort to take care of both your body and mind. It’ll keep you stronger and build your resistance to illness.

Maintaining Balance

Transitioning to remote work, especially if it’s a new concept for you, can be difficult. A healthy work-life balance is vital to success. There is no check-in and check-out schedule as there is at the workplace, so you have to establish it yourself. If you allow yourself to get too engrossed in your work without taking breaks or having a set “quitting time,” you risk getting burned out. At the very least, your productivity and the quality of your work can suffer.

So after you complete your work for the day, engage in some relaxing activities to maintain this important balance. Head outside for some light yard work or other outdoor activities. Meditate or take a nap. Or, for a change of scenery, take a short excursion — drive barefoot around the neighborhood if it strikes your fancy. (You’d be surprised at how liberating this might feel! And it’s legal in all 50 states, as long as you do it properly.)

Keeping Focus

One of the biggest challenges WFH workers face is keeping focus. It’s easy to get distracted under the best of circumstances when working remotely, but when you’ve got spouses, kids, or roommates locked in quarantine with you, it’s hard to get anything done. Staying focused and setting boundaries are keys.

• Clear out a workspace. To be productive, you’ll need a functional and organized space to work in. If you don’t already have an office, it’s a good idea to establish a space that can serve as one. If you have cramped living quarters, now’s a great time to get a dumpster delivered and use it to clear out what you don’t need and create a home office space.

• Set office hours. Let everyone in your household know your working hours and that, during this time frame, you’re not to be disturbed unless it’s important (and then provide examples of what’s important).

• Organize your tech. If you haven’t done so already, check to make sure you have a strong Wi-Fi signal, a good working virtual private network (VPN), hardware that can handle your work requirements, and updated software. Make sure you can access everything you need for work and download any applications that’ll help you be more productive.

• Establish a schedule. Creating a plan can go a long way toward staying focused each day. Set reminders and write to-do lists. Don’t spend all your time bouncing between your phone and social media. Put those things away until your work for the day is done.

If you’re a business owner or working in sales — even if there’s no business being transacted at the moment — a major part of your focus at work should be on your customers. You should still be sure to reach out to them, let them know you’re available with whatever you can offer, and send them notes of gratitude. A promotional gift, such as a pop socket branded with your logo, can be a nice touch, increasing the likelihood that your clients will think of your kindness whenever they use their phones.

WRAPPING IT UP

This pandemic won’t last forever, but it’s likely to continue for several more weeks, potentially months. To preserve your health and sanity, focus on good habits along with activities that are stress-relieving. When the COVID-19 health crisis does pass, you’ll be in great shape to pick up where you left off on your normal routines — or figure out how your “new normal” will work.

Writer: Molly Barnes, Digital Nomad Life

If you need help finding balance, with healthy at home strategies or to develop a better overall wellness strategy, check out our Health & Wellness Coaching. It easy and convenient in an online format (Zoom or Google Meet Sessions).