Top tips for wellbeing while at home
March 26, 2020
Social distancing and restrictions due to the
COVID-19 pandemic means we’re all experiencing a completely new way of living
and working.
To help us maintain our mental wellbeing and
stay productive, we’ve put together some top tips for home working, home
schooling and relaxing.
1.
Tips for working from home
Find
a dedicated work space
At work, you probably have a dedicated
workspace. Try to do the same at home. Think about the ergonomics too and make
sure you’ve set yourself up so you are comfortable – you don’t want to
experience back pain or neck or shoulder troubles because of poor posture.
Create
a soothing environment
Staying home means you have free rein over
your surroundings. Make your work area as soothing so you can keep your stress
level under control. If you enjoy looking outside, set up your desk in front of
a window. Or make sure you have a favourite piece of artwork nearby to look at.
Enjoy
natural light
We all know how much difference the right
lighting makes. A research report from Staples found that 40% of office workers
struggle to work in poor lighting every day, which has a negative effect on
their productivity and wellbeing. If that sounds like you, try to position your
work station so you have plenty of natural light. It will help you feel less
cooped up too.
Use
technology to stay connected
Working from home might help you focus on
your work in the short term, but it can also make you feel cut off from the
rest of your colleagues. Make use of instant messaging and video-conferencing
tools so you can stay in touch and feel part of a team.
Have
regular breaks
Sitting down all day is not good for your
physical health. Just as in the office, try to take regular breaks away from
your screen. Take a walk into your garden at lunchtime if you can – the fresh
air will give you a boost of energy and help your productivity.
2.
Tips for Home Schooling
Create
an engaging environment
Just like creating a dedicated space for
working from home, it can help to create a dedicated area for school work too.
If your children have a comfortable space that is free from unnecessary
distractions, it means they have somewhere they can concentrate on learning.
Provide
a structure
When we go to work or school, our days are
very structured. It can be disorienting when this is taken away. Try to create
a routine that works for you and your family. It will stop the working day and
‘downtime’ blurring into one. The structure will also reduce stress levels
because everyone knows what is expected and by when.
Use
what is already around
Many schools are providing work for children
to do at least some of the time. For the rest, there are lots of resources
online. And don’t forget there are lots of things around the home that can be
used as learning tools. Simple things like using a tape measure or baking a
cake, for example, all teach good skills.
Remember
playtime
At school children will have time in between
lessons to get out and play, so make sure they have regular breaks at home too.
You can use technology to help them stay in touch with their friends and be
active at the same time. Set challenges such as who can do the most keepie
uppies or hula hoops. Then video them to share or challenge them live.
3.
Tips for ‘me’ time
When your work and home are both in the same
place, it’s more important than ever to make time to relax. This is especially
true when cinemas, gyms and pubs are all closed so you have nowhere to ‘escape’
to.
Go
digital
Many of the activities people usually like
doing can be done digitally in some form or another. If you love reading and
are missing your local library, try a Kindle or e-reader where you will have
access to a huge number of books. If exercise is your thing, you’ll find lots
of workouts online. If you’re part of a team, keep in touch by challenging each
other with fitness-related goals.
Stay
in touch with friends
Just because you can’t see each other face to
face doesn’t mean you can’t stay in touch. Video chat and video conferencing
tools mean you can chat just like you normally would. You can even enjoy your
favourite tipple and create your own virtual pub!
Take
up a new hobby or tackle the To Do list
If you aren’t doing your usual daily commute,
you may find you have more time than you usually do. Perhaps you could use this
time to take up a new hobby you’ve never had time for – such as learning to
knit or how to play chess.
If being practical is more your style, you
might like to do the chores you’ve been putting off for too long such as
decluttering the loft or tidying the garage.
The
rainbow window trend
Some children are connecting with each other
by painting colourful rainbows and putting them in their windows. This is a
great way of showing solidarity between young people. One Facebook group called
Chase the Rainbow suggests spotting the rainbows whilst out on walks.
Our mission here at Epwin Window Systems is
to provide window and door systems that make the nation’s buildings more
beautiful and more secure. But now isn’t the time to be thinking about us. Stay
safe, stay healthy and we will get through this together.
