Coping Strategies - part 1

The beginning of the lockdown period for the Covid-19 pandemic met me one month into my MBA program. I was happy for the opportunity to work from home as I no longer had to endure the work-commute. This allowed me to sleep in later after working on assignments the night before. I became so occupied with my job and school assignments that I was unable to relate to my peers' feelings of boredom and frustration with the lockdown. Then came my school vacation some months later, which enabled me to relate to my peers, as my schedule became less hectic, and the impact of the pandemic began to sink in.

Based on my experience thus far, below are three tips that can assist with coping as you work from home:

1. Maintain your pre-Covid routine for getting ready for work.

    This includes waking at least 30 minutes before work, having a shower, breakfast and getting dressed. If you're required to use video for work meetings then of course looking professional and presentable is mandatory. However, if video is not required, you should still maintain that presentable look as it may help mentally prepare you for the work day ahead. Some even suggest wearing the perfume you usually would to assist in setting the mood.

More like this

Less like this

2. Take regular breaks

    For many of us, working from home has caused us to work beyond our regular schedule. We get so consumed with the task at hand that we lose track of time. In cases like these, breaks can help reduce frustration, mental fatigue, relieve stress and reduce eyestrain from excessive computer screen time.

3. Maintain relationships with co-workers

    If your work environment is similar to mine, you would have an appreciation for the ability to share a joke, laugh or smile with a co-worker pre-Covid. Although we're no longer able to do this face-to-face, we can still maintain our friendly relationships and communication with our colleagues via phone and video calls, using tools such as WhatsApp and Teams. This can assist with feeling less isolated and a bit more connected. Of course, this must be managed, as maintaining productivity is crucial.

Stay tuned as I continue to share tips. 
Do you have a tip you'd like to share? Comment below.