Hi everyone, it’s been a hot minute, hope you are all in good health. As you are aware it’s been a crazy 2020 so far and now, we’ve been hit by another crisis. COVID-19 is spreading at an alarming rate with the numbers of those infected as well as fatalities rising quickly. To combat this here in the UK, it has been recommended that all non-essential travel and contact should be avoided, for me this includes work. I know a lot of you out there will be working from home or are in self-isolation to avoid catching/ spreading the illness. It’s important during this time, that we try to maintain a positive attitude, to help you I’ve written this post that contains ways that will make the difficult journey ahead a little better.

STAY AT HOME

The first thing I want to talk about is staying at home unless it’s essential to go out. It’s important to avoid contact with others, not only to prevent yourself from catching the virus but also to avoid spreading it. There are many vulnerable people out there who wouldn’t be able to fight the virus as easily as you so please bear that in mind. I know some aren’t lucky enough to work from home and have to go out for other necessary reasons, if that is you make sure to sanitise/ wash your hands as often as possible and try to limit being out as much as you can.

PREPPING FOR ISOLATION

I want to address the people who are hoarding food, toiletries and other essentials. This is not ok or acceptable, we must think of each other and understand that we are all in the same position. Please be responsible when purchasing items, its fine to get one or two more than you usually would but to hoard cases of food and toiletries is entirely selfish and irresponsible. There are those out there who cannot afford to buy in bulk or may have difficulties getting to the store more than once. With that being said, plan what you need in terms of essentials that way you are stocked for a couple of weeks without the need to go out more than necessary.

THINKING OF OTHERS

Take time to remember everyone affected by this crisis and those that have been hit particularly harder than others. Try and help those around you, check in with elderly people you know to make sure they’re ok, be kind and considerate as everyone is in a state of stress and lastly many organisations are raising awareness and money to help areas that have been hit hard such as Italy if you have the means to do so donate some money to the cause. Also, let’s take a moment to appreciate our healthcare professionals who are on the front line working tirelessly to help the infected.

WORKING FROM HOME TIPS

I know a lot of people don’t have the luxury to do this however if you are lucky enough to do so take a look below on tips to help you stay sane and productive whilst working from home:

• Dedicated Workspace: In your home pick a space where you can work without distractions. I would avoid bedrooms as they are typically your sanctuary and you may not want to share that with the seriousness of work. Once you have selected a suitable spot set up your laptop/ computer, try and make the area inviting and positive with plants and desk décor to help get you motivated to work there.
• Maintain Regular Hours: One of the most important things to do is set a schedule and stick to it otherwise you may feel as if you’re working all the time. Maintaining a work-life balance is key to successfully work from home. Create a routine for yourself before you sit at your desk like getting ready and making a coffee.
• Take Breaks: As well as setting regular work hours, make sure to schedule breaks for yourself. Give yourself adequate time to move away from the computer screen and take a breather to refresh yourself, also make sure to use that break fully.  
• Communicate With Colleagues: Working from home can get lonely especially if you live on your own. Try and stay connected with your colleagues via online channels. With my colleagues, we’ve been using Microsoft Teams which is a great tool for social and work conversations.
• Don’t Get Distracted: Distractions can come in many forms when working from home for example family, make sure to set boundaries so you aren’t disturbed during the hours you are working and can maintain productivity.
• Get Ready: I know its tempting to roll out of bed and start working in your PJ’s however take it from me you will feel way more fresh and ready to tackle the day if you take some time to get dressed and ready.

Those are just a few simple ways that can help you successfully work from home if you have any others that you think are important, feel free to share them in the comments section below!

ENTERTAINMENT

Right, time for the fun stuff, ways to stay entertained during what seems like is going to be a long time:

• Netflix Shows To Binge – Money Heist, Power, Gossip Girl, Prison Break, Breaking Bad, Too Hot To Handle, Tiger King, Black Mirror, Queen Of The South, You, Stranger Things
• Games To Play – eg UNO, Blackjack, Cards Against Humanity, Cluedo, Monopoly, Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, Articulate, Jenga.

There are many more but those are just some popular ones right now.

• YouTube – I think YouTube is the worlds favourite way to pass time, let’s be real many of us can spend hours watching videos on here and not blink.
• Activities – This is the best time to do all those activities that you have wanted to but didn’t have the time for. Here are some suggestions:
  • Scrapbooking
  • Puzzle
  • Journaling
  • Colouring
  • Drawing & painting
  • Arts and crafts
  • Give yourself a manicure
  • Pamper yourself (face masks, bubble baths)
  • Write
  • Read a book
  • Look through old photos and videos
  • Cook or bake
  • Listen to music
  • Learn something new

SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY

Family is so important and now more than ever. Take this time to be with your family and be present. It’s difficult to see any silver lining in this situation but if one thing has come out of it is being able to be at home with your loved ones. Do activities together and work together to make this time as pleasant and productive as possible.  

GET ORGANISED:

Having a lot of time at home means you can finally tick off all those things you’ve been meaning to get to but didn’t have the time for. Getting organised will make being at home a lot more pleasant, trust me! Don’t know where to start? Have a look at the list below to get some inspiration:

• Make lists of things to do
• Make a schedule to give yourself a routine
• Organise and clean out your closet
• Donate clothes
• Clean out your phone camera roll
• Clean makeup brushes
• Organise and get rid of old makeup
• Sort out finances & make budgets
• Clean and sanitise your home
• De-clutter and tidy your home
• Organise and clean your fridge
• Do a grocery shop
• Do laundry
• Clean the garden
• Some DIY around the house
• Sort emails
• Clean out your social media – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc
• Update CVs & Linkedin profiles
• Clean out your car
• Clean out all correspondence e.g. bank statements, letters  
• Clean out and organise your laptop/ computer
• Pay bills & compare providers to see if you can get a better deal
• Meal prep

That’s all I could come up with, for now. I may update this post and add more if I think of others.

FAITH & MEDITATION

During this period take time to reflect, to my Muslim readers try to pray on time as you are home. Strengthen your connection to God and pray for the good of humanity. Maybe this has happened to force us to slow down and take a step back, evaluate yourselves and the life you are living. Try meditation, did you know it can reduce stress, control anxiety, promote emotional health, enhance self-awareness etc.

In the coming weeks of isolation, its will be easy to fall into negatives and get down which is understandable however try and shift your mindset, rather than thinking ‘you have to stay at home’ think ‘I get to be safe at home with my family’. Always look for some small positive in the sea of downsides to each situation.

STAYING HEALTHY

• Being at home does not mean you cannot be active. There are tonnes of workout plans you can access online. Carve out some time every day to get moving and active even if it is just for 10 minutes. Don’t let this period be an excuse to get unfit, now more than ever stay healthy and moving.
• If you find being at home is causing you to eat unhealthy then make a meal plan and stick to it. Again it’s important to maintain your health and to do so you need to put good things into your body. Use this time to cook good nutritious meals.
• Just because you are at home does not mean you can be lax on your hygiene, now more than ever we all must take care to keep clean. You may not be going out every day but take showers and clean your environment often to ensure you aren’t being exposed to any bacteria that could potentially harm you or others. Don’t let yourself get into the habit of not getting ready for the day since you aren’t going out, to stay mentally fresh get ready and change into clothes other than your pyjamas.

STAY UPDATED

It’s difficult to watch the news without feeling depressed and hopeless, however, make sure to keep updated on what is going on. This crisis is affecting many people in different ways and if you are worried about finances, contact your employers, check government websites and banks to see what support they’re offering businesses, mortgages and renters. The government are implementing a lot of legislation that are being continuously updated to help people.

I’ve got some posts planned like ‘shows to binge’, ‘movies to watch’ and ‘easy recipes’ etc just to keep the mood up. Personally, I like to have some normality in this situation and have light-hearted content to turn to. Let me know in the comments if there’s anything, in particular, you want to see on my page.

Ok, I think I’ve covered all the important points, I just want to finish by saying stay safe and be kind. Hopefully, this shall pass soon and we can all get back to our regular routines.