With the recent precautions being taken across the country to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), like many other Americans across the country, may find yourself working from home for the foreseeable future. While being able to work at home can be a surprising bonus during these unforeseen circumstances for some, for many others it can present a unique challenge to not only your productivity but your mental and physical health as well.

These potential struggles are what led us here as a team to want to share the ways that help each one of us make it through the workday as we are stuck working from home:

1. Brea Hoglund - “When I work from home, I love to move things around and adjust my home desk so that I have the opportunity to have a different office ‘view’ and perspective each day. It keeps my imagination and routine fresh.” Rearranging your workspace can help lift your mood and leave you with a sense of satisfaction and feeling effective! So be sure to take Brea’s advice and take a few minutes and change up your current ‘office’ scenery! 

2. Courtney Stone - “When working from home, I like take a break to clean the house while listening to true crime podcasts. It entertains me and lets me be productive.” Cleaning in general is also a fantastic way to destress and be active. Similar to meditation, cleaning allows you to feel in control of your environment around you and can help put you at ease. The repetitiveness of cleaning also allows you to become absorbed in what you’re doing and inadvertently clear your mind.

3. Geno Napolitano – “I like to exercise during lunchtime. Exercising helps me clear my mind and relieve stress. It also gives me more mental clarity and focus to finish my workday off strong.” Geno also likes to take breaks throughout his day by playing his 6-string guitar. Playing an instrument can help you change your focus away from what is potentially stressing you out and allowing you to refocus on something enjoyable. Incorporating music throughout your day, known as ‘music therapy,’ can often bring many benefits such as helping you cope with anxiety, improves your cognition, helps you sleep better, helps you feel energized throughout the day, and can even help with physical pain.

4. Maddy Orban – “When working from home I like to practice yoga during my down time. Yoga and movement help to clear my mind and allows me to finish out my workday strong with more mindfulness and clarity than before.” Regular physical activity, even for just a few minutes each day, can release endorphins in your body that help improve mood and reduce the symptoms of stress, depression and even anxiety. We know that it may be difficult to get in a proper exercise session when you’re confined to your home or apartment, but try out some yoga like Maddy which doesn’t require much space in your home or apartment.

5. Nick Baldwin – “I like to take some time out in the day to get some fresh air. It could be as simple as opening a window and taking a few minutes to relax, just as long as you switch it up from that circulating (in my case, small studio) air.” Even his teammate Brad Schwenke agrees who enjoys a “midafternoon walk around the block.” Going outside and allowing yourself to take in the benefits of vitamin-D from sunshine can help keep your body’s natural sleep cycle in check. Walking is also a great way to get those awesome endorphins running, helping you get a pep back in your literal steps.

6. Kristin Kellam – “I make sure to get out of the house to take a walk a few times throughout the day for fresh air and some movement. I also make sure to get up from my desk at least once an hour, even if it’s just to get water or a snack.” When the weather or other circumstances may keep her indoors, Kristin likes to get her daily activity playing with her kitten, Frankie. “[Frankie] enjoys racing, so we race up and down my hallway until she slides into a wall due to the hardwood floors.”

7. Hilary Pape - “I like to walk my dog [Blue] for a quick break from my screen. Fresh air helps both of us focus for the remainder of the day.” Apart from helping you stay active, studies have shown that pet owners are also less likely to suffer from depression, have lower levels of anxiety, have lower blood pressure and even lower cholesterol!

8. Jason Rebacz - “I found that waking up and sticking to a routine kept me on track and happy while working from home for 4 and a half years. By taking a shower, getting dressed and having breakfast prior to starting my day I was able to tackle the needs of my customers head on.” Sometimes it can be difficult to stick to a routine while at home but just like pets who stick to a daily routine, keeping a daily schedule can help you stay focused with what you need to do to stay productive.

9. Nick Fanelli – “I find that cooking as a whole allows me to incorporate various things to help my overall mental health, especially when I’m working from home. The repetitive nature of cooking, like chopping or slicing ingredients, can help clear my mind and relax. Cooking also allows me to use my creativity while also being more mindful about what I am eating and my overall health.” Your nutrition is an often-overlooked aspect of your overall mental health. Consuming foods that have excess amounts of fats and sugars can lead you to feeling sluggish and unfocused. Instead, focus on eating or making well-rounded meals that are high in fruits and vegetables, omega-3 fats, iron and other beneficial vitamins and minerals. Take your meals a step further and use that time to help you destress.

10. Zury Carsi – “When working from home, I try to make some time to play video games to destress, disconnect and clear my mind after a long day of work.” Some studies have shown that videogames can give players an outlet that is fun, safe, helps develop your emotional awareness and coping skills. Videogames can also be a great way to interact socially with friends as many games allow you to play with players anywhere from the room next door to all the way around the world which can be helpful during times of prolonged isolation and loneliness.