Disrupted and Blending

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How do you address emotional health around ‘everyone at home’?

Disruption

We all know the coronavirus threat has disrupted our lives. Everything interrupted.

We’ve done a great job of adapting to the new normal. And we’ll continue adapting.

A few weeks ago, uncertainty, chaos, fear, was all-consuming. Demanding immediate responses and changes as we were told what we needed to do.

Those messages are now replaced with calls to not be complacent.

Our new challenge is remembering the impact of disruption continues long after the event.

Primary Roles disrupted

Running a household. Working outside of, or from, home. School and higher education. All primary roles.

All with the common thread of being linked to routine and structure. Often in an environment outside home. Extra time home is for weekends. Holidays. When we’re sick. Special  times. Right?

Suddenly having everyone in the same environment every day, with no real break, has a huge impact.

Plus an opportunity to adapt.

To address things you may never have had to before, because the decisions were made for you. Like routines established by employers or schools. Around start times, finish times, weekends and holidays.

Expectations

Adapting might start with expectations. Separating yours from other peoples.

How do I home-school and do a full day’s work? How do we all work from the kitchen table? What do I do now I can’t work at all?

Flexibility

Being inflexible leads to unavailability and conflict.

So, here’s your chance to be flexible. Adapt to the new way of doing, working and living. Seeing how each person’s world and activities can blend, rather than collide.

What are the immediate priorities? When am I most productive? Where do I create a productive space to work? What happens if others need me and I’m focussed on something else?

How do I stay focussed?

Boundaries

Being too flexible leads to poor boundaries. This can increase stress, especially around meeting expectations.

Boundaries help us transition effectively between roles. Even amidst necessary interruptions. They make it easier for everyone. Are important for self-care. Benefit relationships. Show mutual respect.

Setting boundaries starts with your normal daily routine. Work out when you are or aren’t available. To family. To the external world.

Let the phone ring. Stop checking the news. Or social media. Have dedicated family or social time.

And drop the guilt.

You’re all a part of this. Together.

workstyle-healthstyle-lifestyle wellness

I’m an optimist. So, to me, there’s an even greater opportunity.

To create increased, what I call, workstyle-healthstyle-lifestyle wellness. Or work-health-life wellness.

Digressing for a moment:

It’s different to the common term ‘work-life balance’. Because my belief is work-life balance relies on having your health.

And I used to say work-health-life balance. Except balance suggests equal time in each area, which is unrealistic.

Back to roles…

Shifting roles

We transition from one role to another through routines and rituals. They make it easier to engage. To do what the role requires.

• You get dressed for the role. Work. Home. School. Sport. Social. Volunteering.
• Your mindset shifts to the role.
• Travel time consolidates that shift. Driving to work, or appointments. Or to and from school drop-off.
• Only certain outside interruptions get through. Important things.
• The same happens in reverse, as you prepare to engage in the other roles of life.

Strategies for Emotional Health – workstyle, healthstyle and lifestyle wellness

So, what to do to promote wellness when everyone’s together?

1. Refocus. Ideally each morning. Allow yourself to make the most of now. Look at what you’ve got, not what you haven’t. Believe in yourself. Write down what you intend to achieve that day. Include everything: fun; social; family time; private time.

2. Routine. Keep your daily routine. Or modify it to work for you. If you’re suddenly working from home, dress for work. Always start with a tea or coffee? Still do.

3. Environment. Clear the clutter. Let sunlight in. Feel good in your environment. Create dedicated spaces for different tasks.

4. Eat well. Follow your normal routine as much as possible. What you eat and drink. And when. Stop heading for the snacks because you’re home and they’re there! 

5. Exercise. Outside if you can. Online if you’d normally attend a class. Or a safe home gym option.

6. Socialising. Stay in contact with family, friends, colleagues. Phones. Video calls. Group chats.

7. Sleep. Get enough! Go to sleep feeling good about the day:

            What am I grateful for?

            What 3 things have I achieved today?

Wanting what you can’t have

Have you wished you could have more time at home. Be less consumed by work? Have more family or friend time?

Well, the treadmill has stopped. Momentarily. Here’s your opportunity to do things differently.

What are you changing now so you don’t feel this way in future?

We’d love to hear.

Stay safe and be well!

Anne