Finding the new normal.
If you are like me living in the States you might be in a position where normal life has definitely changed. This change has been different and difficult for people, for some this involves more time with family while for others it is a significant change with income or major life decisions. For a person who lives his life by routines this week has been the worst with regards to productivity. I do well with defining boundaries that working from home therefore has definitely created a clear lack of. It took me a week to get to the tips below but I think I have a plan to tackle this in the following week. Here are some of the things that I am going to do to help me find the new normal.
- Get up early, even when you don’t have anywhere to go.
I think as a person who is highly productive in the morning I can use it to my advantage especially at home where I can get up early and get most of my important tasks done before the world wakes up. This step can be used by anyone who has identified when they are active and are highly capable of tackling important problems. This could also mean freeing up your evening to deal with tasks that you can finish effectively. The part here about getting early is to give you a purpose that you have things to do even if you don’t have anywhere to physically be. - Set physical boundaries that you can see and can clearly associate with a specific activity.
This might seem simple but I think it is highly essential to focus on various tasks. I have assigned the unused table in my basement as my official home office. It is not perfect but when I am at that table I only work on my official work tasks. I don’t use it to write personal emails or even this post. This give you a physical boundary that you can associate mentally to a task and a particular activity. This physical boundary helps you to physically block your distractions and helps your focus on your tasks. I understand this can be hard for people with children or with people living in small spaces. I would suggest having small manageable times of isolation which can help create boundaries. If you have a dining table set a specific chair to work on and another to eat this give you a different visual perspective when working on a specific task. - Everyone is stressed. Take a minute to identify what it is.
This past week I had something to stress about everyday. Once it was about a task at work and how I was unable to do anything to tackle it. The other day it was about what I had to eat and if I had to run to the grocery store and get in close proximity with people. Stress is not inherently bad but it can definitely complicate problems and can put you into a place and can get you to become desperate. You need to identity the thing/things that causes you to freak out and try to think about solutions for it. I usually call my sister to talk about things that stress me out and I am thankful for her wisdom. - Let’s get physical.
I know staying at home can add to your stress and being someone who cannot be home bound I have discovered this the hard way. I have come up with a routine that has helped me ease this problem. The solution is get up/get out and do something physical. It can range from going out for a walk or working out in your yard or inside your humble abode. As a person who loves doing things outside I am relying on those sweet endorphins to help me get thought some dull parts during my day. - Connect with people.
Call people everyday. If possible video chat with them. I try to talk to my parents everyday this I think puts me and my parents at ease. They often worry about me and my sister. I try to call my friends or at-least send them a text that starts the process of getting back in touch with them. When you can schedule a time to chat with them it can be something you can look forward to when you are confined at home. With the current technologies we have at our fingertips this is easy to do, all it takes is that simple text asking when they are available and telling them that you are there if they need anything.
I hope the above tips help you to find the new normal in during this time. I am writing this for my own benefit so that I can follow the above to become better and hopefully not lose my mind during this social isolation.