Many of my remote clients have been really struggling with being at home. They feel stuck, lost, bored, anxious, and a ton of other emotions which often find them walking back and forth from the fridge 1800 times a day. (And no, I don't mean, "get through the day" in a bad way. I just mean to help you manage what feels like might be out of control).
I am by no means a therapist, or a psychologist, or a medical doctor. So this post is more about what I've suggested to my clients, what they have communicated back to me that is working and a few other things. If you do feel you need professional mental help during this time, please reach out to someone. There are hotlines you can call, or even reach out to a team member of elitefts and we can point you in a direction. The important thing is to reach out.
1. Have a schedule. If you're working, have set work hours. If you're not working from home, plan out your day the night before to give it some structure.
2. Prep meals. While I encouraged clients to do this prior to the quarantine, it seems to be even more helpful now. With no commute time and possible less work hours, make a commitment to cook once or twice a week, with meals divided up and ready to go.
3. Get up every hour on the hour while working. Use the bathroom furthest away in your house. Walk to the end of the street and back. Not because of the extra 10 calories to walk upstairs, but to get you to stand up, move and take inventory of how you're feeling.
4. FaceTime friends and family. We've been doing this a lot lately and it's been wonderful to see everyone. Our whole family does Zoom calls on Sunday. Christian and I even hopped on FaceTime with my brother and his wife to play some online Euchre. We chatted while we played cards and it brought so much joy!
5. Do something kind for someone. If you're cooking, cook an extra meal for someone you know who needs it. The nurse down the street. The elderly couple next door. Doing kind deeds really helps our mental state.
6a. Forget the meal plan. Some of my clients are struggling with stress and anxiety right now. Following their meal plan is just overload. So we focus on whatever key thing they need most. One client focuses on protein at every meal. Another focuses on 3-4 veggies and fruits a day.
6b. Stick to the meal plan. If you're on the opposite end of the spectrum, maybe now is a good time to try sticking to a specific meal plan. Perhaps you're not as stressed, but have more time to devote to cooking, working out and exercising. Pulling in the reigns a bit might keep you from eating the pantry.
7. Find something new to do each week. Not necessarily a new hobby, but just something new. Our family started a puzzle (which we haven't done in forever). We play catch once a week or work on baseball drills. And with the weather getting nicer, we do something outside. Draw a chalk message for your neighbors in their driveway!
8. Take 10 minutes at the start and end of each day. Clear your head. You don't need to think about anything if you don't want to. Just sit quietly. Let your emotions come and go. Don't fight them. Don't try to solve anything. Just sit and breathe. (There are lots of good breathing apps out there.)
9. Get your sleep. I've heard more and more people say that because they aren't working, they are staying up and sleeping in. Stick to your normal routine as much as possible.
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