7 More Tips for Staying in During Social Distancing
As social distancing works to slow the spread of COVID-19, we may be spending more time inside than we had planned.
The good news is that social distancing appears to be slowing the spread of COVID-19. The bad news is that we’ll likely be distancing and isolating for a bit longer than any of us planned. I’ve added a few more tips to the list to help us all through it.
8. Get dressed EVERY DAY
Even if you are just putting on new athleisure, change your clothes for work, change your clothes for exercise, change your clothes for bed. It’s easy to stay in our comfy clothes, but remember, we don’t want to be too comfortable. We want to create an experience of “coming home” at the end of the day and that usually involves changing into our comfy clothes.
9. Take your work email off your phone
If you’re working from home and in front of your computer most of the day, you’re not going to miss emails. Your co-workers may be working extra hours, but that doesn’t mean you need to. The work will be there in the morning. It’s important to shut down your work at the end of the day. Put it away to the best of your ability and then set it all up again tomorrow. If you really need to be on 24/7, try to not take emails from your bed, or during times when you’re engaging in self-care, like eating or exercising.
10. Make a schedule
Our days are usually scheduled, so try to map out your day on a schedule and keep to it the best you can. Do this a little for weekends too. Weekends can be a good time to sit in and veg out, but try to keep it limited to these two days. Try not to do one activity for too long; you can set an alarm to indicate that it’s time to shift tasks. It’s important right now to break up your day, but also to be intentional with our time.
11. Alone time
If you live with a partner, roommates, or your kids, try to still make sure you are getting time alone. If you usually work out with your partner, but now you are both home, all day, together, maybe exercise alone instead. Most relationships need individual space, something we are lacking right now if we live with anyone else. If everyone in the house is working from home, try to take turns in different spaces, it will allow everyone to get a different space and break up the day or week. Try not to depend too much on this person, or people, as your main source of support. On a usual day, we see friends, family, and co-workers. We usually use these relationships for support, in addition to the relationships we have at home. Continue to create those experiences in your week, through virtual experiences, so you not only have something to talk about when you "come home," but also people to talk to about how hard it might be to be at home!
12. Don’t be hard on yourself
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO USE THIS TIME TO BE MORE PRODUCTIVE. This is a hard time, and a lot of energy is going towards maintaining your mental health. You DO NOT have to learn another language, lose 5 lbs, or learn to play the cello. You ONLY have to find ways to take care of yourself, and your community, that feel good to you.
13. Let others help you
If you are not working, see if there are ways that you can donate future services to others for prepayment. Can you give cooking lessons, do photoshoots, paint, sell writing? Remember, this is a universal experience and your friends and family have similar concerns. Most people are looking for ways to support their friends during this time, try to let others take care of you.
14. Reach out
Tell people if you're struggling! If it's maintaining nutrition, keeping exercise in your day, or even if you're lonely. Let people know how they can help and support.
by Nicole Borger, M.A., LMHC
Nicole is a licensed mental health counselor specializing in the treatment of anxiety and depression, and in professional development. A former adjunct professor of group dynamics and human service management at CUNY New York with BA and master’s degrees in psychology and counseling, she provides individual and group psychotherapy to a diverse population using cognitive behavioral case formulation and related techniques.