These are unprecedented times, and the situation of this pandemic is changing every day. For this reason, it’s important to maintain good mental health where possible. Of course, it’s expected that some days may come with their challenges, but it’s important to maintain a positive outlook.
If you’re looking to stay productive – or even just positive – during this testing time, we have 5 tips to help you do just that.
1. Establish a Routine
You’re probably used to getting up at a certain time, eating, getting ready for work, and staying out of the house for 9 or so hours before returning home. Right now, this isn’t possible for most of us, so it’s a good idea to establish something that resembles your “normal” working day. Not only will this help you to feel some semblance of normality, it will also help to differentiate between working days and days off, or weekdays and weekends.
If you feel unproductive, try setting a schedule for yourself. Set time blocks (30 mins – 2 hours at a time) in which you work, work on a passion project, game, study – whatever will help you feel productive.
2. Keep Your Space Clean
It has been said that cleanliness is next to godliness, and in the midst of a pandemic, this couldn’t be truer! When you’re spending a lot of time at home, your living space may also become your workspace, your eating space, and your sleeping space, all in one. It’s important that this is kept clean, not only for your own safety but also for peace of mind.
If your workspace is dirty and untidy, it’s likely a sign that you feel unbalanced, too. You need your home or workspace to feel hygienic, so do your best to tidy up at the start or end of the workday. Also consider if your work is seeping out of its normal defined work times, as this can be a sign why it’s becoming untidy. If you wake up at 7 and sit down at your desk, barely moving until 7 or 8 when you move to the sofa, you may need to redefine your workday.
3. Make a Top 3 List Each Day
Give yourself a list of three priority tasks each day which are the only three things that really matter. This can look like “hoover the house, water the plants, start dinner prep” or “empty email log, make important work calls, fill out forms”. Everyone’s day will look different, but the underlying point is that these short bursts of productivity are far less intimidating than a long, laborious list of chores and tasks.
4. Give Yourself Breaks
While this may not sound spontaneous and fun, it’s a good idea to schedule in time to relax. A good way to do this if you’re facing a 9-hour day of home admin is to take 15 minutes every couple of hours to stretch, have a cup of coffee or a snack, meditate or even go for a quick walk or run. This breaks up the day and frees up some of that headspace so that when your 15 minutes is up, you can hit the ground running and get back into being productive.
5. Try “Theme” Days
For example, if you’re working from home, set Monday as your numbers day, Tuesday as a day for seeking work if you’re a freelancer, Wednesday as a day for scheduling in virtual meetings or calls, Thursday for meal planning, etc. This will help to differentiate each day from the next, and you’ll be less likely to drift from one task to the next. It will also help if you’re struggling to keep on top of things each day, as it allows you to focus on just one “theme”.
Most importantly of all, don’t forget to be kind to yourself. Remember that we are in the middle of a global pandemic, so try not to feel guilty if one day you don’t reach every single target you set yourself. Your situation and mindset are likely to change on a daily basis, so have patience with yourself and try to keep a stable balance between work, cleaning, leisure, and self-care.
If you’re still going to work and are looking for a commercial cleaning company to support you, Cleanup My Shhh… is here for you. We embrace the latest eco-friendly cleaning technology and chemistry to produce astonishingly clean environments. We are also selling hand sanitizer, so if you’re struggling to get your hands on some, don’t hesitate to reach out. You can reach us at LetsChat@cleanupmyshhh.com.