How’s your work/life balance? Have you made a space for yourself that is truly for relaxation and recovery? Even if you’re stuck in a 10×10 bedroom you’ve been forced to somehow turn into an office, you can find a little nook for yourself. At the beginning of lockdown, I was in an unhappy living situation and stuck in a very small space. There are only so many meals you can eat in bed before you start to feel a little kooky. I had no room for another item of furniture in an already crammed room, so I turned to my favorite coping mechanism—online shopping. I bought myself a square floor pillow and turned the corner of my room into a place for reading books, listening to podcasts, and watching the first 10 minutes of almost every MasterClass session before realizing that, no, my quarantine journey would not include learning how to shoot hoops like Steph Curry.
One thing I’ve noticed since pivoting to the work-from-home world is a huge change in my eating habits. My previous job had me working in restaurants where I was often fed at least once per shift and able to snag some scraps from the kitchen here and there when I had a moment. That, mixed with some very intense shifts of extreme busyness, can keep an appetite lean. Learning how to plan and consume food at home throughout the day, and missing the chance to happily accept a stray handful of fries, has been a huge challenge. Planning ahead for snacks that can be prepared in the quick few minutes between meetings is key. One of my personal favorites? Bone broth. It can be reheated throughout the day, it keeps my hunger at bay, and it can even be sipped like coffee if you’re stuck on webcams for an extended period of time.
Finally, I would suggest adopting a “coworker” of some type. Cats work great for this as they don’t require going outside too regularly and seem to enjoy having ideas bounced off them in exchange for treats and the occasional midday snuggle. If you’re like me and happened to move into a home with a very affectionate feline named Gravy (who likes to sit on the desk and stare out the window for hours each day), you might find your time working from home a little less lonesome.
By this time next year, maybe we won’t need so many of these “work-from-home” survival guides. Until then, trust me when I say that warming up a nice cup of broth, sitting in a decent chair with your blue light glasses and a fat cat by your side, will make it all just a little more tolerable.