Restore the Relaxation

GET OUT OF BED… AND STAY OUT!

Now that the majority of us are working from home, it could have seemed like a dream come true when you came to the realization that you could do all your work from the comfort of your own bed!  You could set an alarm for five minutes before work started, grabbed your laptop and a cup of coffee, and snuggled back down into your covers as you began your workday.  As enticing and wonderful as this might have seemed at first, now that we are several weeks deep in our stay at home orders your bed or couch or special comfy space in your home might not feel very relaxing and comfortable as it should.  I’m here to tell you to NOT work from those spots!  When you wake up in the morning, make it a point to designate a specific work area that is not your place of rest or sleep.  You will find getting out of bed and sitting upright and in a conformable yet engaged position while you work will not only help the productivity of the work you do, but will also make your resting places peaceful, restoring, and rejuvenating once more.

NO SHOES, NO SHIRT… NO PROBLEMS!

If you’re anything like me, the thought of working from home makes you giddy because you realize you don’t have to dress up.  You don’t have to change out of your pajamas at all really!  Working from the comfort of your home in the comfort of your most favorite pair of sweats and raggedy t-shirt.  Wonderful right?!?  WRONG.  Wearing your most comfortable clothes all day long and never really changing can really take the comfort and relaxed feeling you normally are overcome with once you used to make it home from a long day and get out of your work clothes.  There really is something fulfilling about coming home and taking off your stiff button up or blouse and exchanging your dress pants or skirt for your favorite pair of sweats or shorts.  So this week I challenge you to get out of bed and get dressed and ready like you normally would for any other day of work.  You don’t have to go all out in a business suit, but getting up and making yourself look and feel presentable can have a huge impact on your confidence and your work for that day.  It will also feel wonderful and relaxing at the end of your workday to change out of your business or work clothes and move into something you feel leisurely in!   

REARRANGE YOUR ARRANGEMENT

Being in your home for a few weeks now likely has you bored and tired of the same old views and same old stuff day after day.  But this boredom presents the perfect opportunity to tap into your creative and artistic side!  Have you ever thought about rearranging your furniture in your bedroom or your living room?  Start moving things around!  Change up the location of your bed or your couch and tv.  You don’t have to keep it this way for long, but change is SO good and healthy in these crazy times of repetition.  I believe you will find this exercise not only fun but really rewarding in the sense that you get out of the same habits and routines you’ve been living in a confined space for so long.  And who knows, you might end up trying a few things and find something so perfect you end up keeping your space like that forever!

REWARD YOURSELF

Even though we are all working from home and not going out and accomplishing the things we normally would outside of our homes, you are still a rock star and deserve praise and rewards!  So set small goals for yourself to achieve and have a reward waiting for you once you accomplish them!  For instance, you have a large worksheet to finish and have all week to do it.  Tell yourself that once you finish this project, you are going to reward yourself by enjoying a few scoops of your favorite ice cream while watching the latest episode of a show you enjoy.  The key is to not give this to yourself every single night just because you can or have the time.  Set a goal you can work towards, accomplish it, and then savor your reward.  You will find those rewarding moments most relaxing and enjoyable even though you haven’t left your own home!

I hope these additional combating quarantine tips help you navigate through this unprecedented time!  If you take a whack at any of these suggestions for inviting serenity and peace back into your home and found them helpful or fun, or just have a story you would like to share, please let me know!  I’d love to hear from you!  You can find me on Facebook. 

Stay safe my friends!