Congratulations! For some reading this, you’ve made it through your first week of working from home. You may have set up a nice space for yourself, settled into a new “routine” of waking up just a bit later than you “should" and likely found some joy in being able to not wear pants during conference calls. For others, you’re still sorting through the uncharted waters of being unemployed.
Well, as a freelancer for the last 6 years - and the bulk of my professional life - I’m well versed in all of the below:
being unemployed
being employed and then within the span of 3 hours, going back to being unemployed
having the rug pulled out from under me in the fleeting moments of job security
working from home
pondering the morality of filing for unemployment
Putting aside the impending nightmare that exists outside of your home, I thought I might aid in your potential stress in achieving a life well lived inside the home. When it comes to the down times and the busy times, I’ve been through the ringer - all inside the comforts of my own home.
1. Put Pants On
If you dress like shit, you’ll feel like shit.
You may already have this instinct as every pair of sweatpants you thought you owned are in the hamper and you’re wearing pairs of stained loungewear that should have been donated 10 years ago. If not, this one is for you especially.
Working and being at home is no excuse for dressing like a homeless person. After all, you are not homeless. You are lucky enough to be cozy-ing up in the comfort of a warm home. So, treat it, and yourself, with respect.
I’m not talking about ball gowns at home - you may not even need jeans. But at least wear something that makes you feel good. Maybe some fancy silk pajamas, or a new pair of tie dye socks. Whatever your poison, don’t dress like a slob.
2. Throw on Earrings or Lipstick
A continuation of #1 - do things to make yourself feel special. Make your home a sanctuary - and in a sanctuary, you wouldn’t be wearing rags.
Make the most of your non-judgmental surroundings and try out some new looks. Getting through this is going to require feeling good about yourself. Don’t make it harder on yourself.
3. Make Lists
Whether you have a boss or not, being home all day means you have to become a bit of your own boss. Set goals for the days & weeks. Imagine things you want to accomplish and then break them doing into daily tasks to get yourself there.
Every night before falling asleep, I make a mental list of how I want to shape the following day. Keeping a list, and being able to cross things off that list, helps in feeling accomplished throughout the day. It also helps to wake up with an arc to my day. Having any sort of a schedule or itinerary helps the day move more fluidly.
4. Keep Yourself Accountable
#3 falls into #4. Being your own boss means keeping yourself in line. That means when you go a few days without crossing something off your list, you only answer to yourself - and in a lot of ways it’s much harder than when it’s someone else.
I like to workout 4-5 times per week. I’m not great at actually making that happen, but I set the bar there. I draw myself a monthly calendar that I use to write in my workouts each day. The calendar is on my fridge so I see it constantly and it irks me to my core when I see too many X’s in a row in one week.
5. Stay Active
I personally have trouble sleeping if I sit around the house all day and then somehow are expected to get tired and do it all again the next day. I need to be active to get my body tired enough to propel the cycle.
If you choose not to work out, that’s one thing. But let’s not play dumb and act like there aren’t things you can be doing if you made the choice to. Working out at home may not be your preference under normal circumstances, but tough luck.
With today’s restrictions in place, there are definite road blocks to a normal active lifestyle. Even so, it’s not an excuse to say there are no options. There are TONS of options to work out at home.
Lots of yoga studios are doing online classes. There are endless YouTube HIIT workouts. You can still go outside and run or walk.
I don’t have gym gear at home - I use water bottles in place of weights, my dining chairs in place of benches, and so on. You have plenty of resources.
6. Put Music on When You Wake Up
If you’re anything like me, then the instinct at any quiet pause in the day may lead to grabbing the TV remote. To combat my Real Housewives with morning coffee pull, I put music on when I walk into the living room before I start making coffee.
Having music playing will keep your thoughts distant from the TV. It will fill your space with calm and comfort in those moments you may need a little push forward.
7. Make Things Feel New Again
I can’t stress the importance of a morning routine enough. Once you put your feet on the ground and slide into those worn out slippers, step into your day with purpose.
Open the curtains, pull up the blinds and let the sun in. Welcome the day. Make your bed, organize the mail, take the trash out. I clean the kitchen and put dishes away every morning. When you start your day with small accomplishments, it sets the tone for the entire day.
This sense of renewal will keep you from that horrible feeling of the mundane.
8. Set Limits for Yourself
It’s super easy to fall into unhealthy habits while at home for too long - watching too much TV, eating too much junk food, you know the rest. If you have an indulgent breakfast, set a limit for your lunch or dinner. Balance the good with the bad and tailor it to what works for you.
You know your limits best so set boundaries for these things to keep yourself from feeling too lost. I try and put a time to when it’s all right to start laying on the couch and watching TV. Most days, that’s around 7pm but it can always vary, given #8.
9. Listen to Your Instincts
All of these things aside, there is no correct path for filling your days - wether you’re working or not. These are things I do to keep myself propelling forward and to feel accomplished and fulfilled on days when no one else is really keeping me accountable.
If today isn’t a day you want to be productive, then it’s fine to let it lie there. Maybe today you’re quite content to watch TV all day and hopefully tomorrow you feel up for being productive. That’s all good - let your instincts lead. They’ll ultimately tell you when it’s time to give the lounging a rest.
10. Remind Yourself to be Grateful
Pandemics aside, working from home is often seen as a privilege and something people campaign for actively in their offices. I’m sure you at some point sat in your office imagining the perfect world where you could work from home 1-2 days per week. Remember that it is a luxury and you’re incredibly lucky to still have a job & something that’s keeping you busy.
Being unemployed, while largely not an elective state, can be reason for pause and reflection that being caught in the hustle will not allow. Try and see the benefits of this awarded time.
If you’re in a good state financially and are able to, help others who are feeling the stresses of unemployment. Remind yourself of your worth and ability to find another job should the opportunities come back to us.
And if you’re ultimately not in a great space financially and unemployment is hitting you hard in ways you hadn’t expected, reach out to people for help. As said many times throughout this week, we’re all in this together. And while we’re all holed up at home, there’s no better time than to help out a neighbor.
