How To Stay Sane And Keep Being Productive When The World Seems Crazy
Since the first stay-at-home orders were issued, some of the companies have suddenly figured out how to support employees working from home (WFH). Concerns about employees prioritizing household tasks overwork have all but dissipated as leaders finally accept that remote workers are actually very productive and typically put in more hours than in-office employees as a result of not having to commute. It is important to set some boundaries so that you aren’t spending all of your time on work.
Every industry and organization has had to adapt to this new environment and in doing so, the true nature of corporate cultures and leaders has been revealed.
As distressing news continually broadcasts to the top of our feeds, phones, and TVs, it isn’t uncommon to feel more than a little nervous about the state of the world right now. Everyone wants to stay informed on current events but frankly following the news is actually a source of stress itself.
Although based on the latest survey of an insurance company Cigna, Indonesia is one of the countries with low stress levels in the world. But still, having to work and stay at home for months consistently must lead to a snowballing of negative thoughts and feelings.
However, there are ways to remind yourself the world will keep on spinning.
1. Accept the uncertainty
Rule no. 1 and is very crucial.
YOU. NEED. TO. ACCEPT. THAT. THIS. IS. HAPPENING.
This pandemic has no clear vision of the ending. No one can precisely predict when the virus will stop spreading, and because of that, it seems like we lost control and we’re not accustomed to dealing with uncertainty.
So, to better accept the unknown, we have to relinquish control and maintain the trust that the people in power are working to solve large-scale issues. Complain, that’s okay. Pour it out. But you gotta learn to accept the fact that this is happening, remember that it affects everybody, not just you.
2. Set some ground rules
Working from home has some lacks and perks, obviously. The perks, for example, you can get up early just to tap in and then sleep for another hour or two, have a peaceful breakfast that you used to often miss because you’re late to work, do your assignment lying on the bed or couch instead of that stiff chair at the office, take a break anytime you want, etc. While the perks are as sweet as it can get, the lacks are also dreadful. One of them is the signal of the beginning and end of the workday is blurry.
That’s why it’s very important to set some ground rules to keep maintaining your mental and physical health, like stop working after 7 pm, stop responding to emails and texts on the weekend unless it’s an urgent matter, set some personal daily to-do list and take a rest when it’s finished.
Do what you’re normally doing with a little adjustment and improvisation.
3. Stick to the fact
The fear of missing out is real and we all want to keep updated on the latest news even though it causes more anxiety and the feeling of powerlessness. That’s okay if you think that information is important. But instead of dragging yourself down with those endless feelings, try to evaluate what you know to be true at this moment to help you — don’t exaggerate or overreact — to keep your ground. Try to think the facts like I still have my health and my family, I still have meals to eat, I still have the belief that this pandemic will be over anytime soon, I still have people that love me, etc.
4. Stay connected
Thanks to Zoom, Google Hangouts, and video calls, it’s easy to stay connected with friends and family virtually. These apps enable you to have one-to-one or group calls with anyone from around the world, at any time, in the comfort of your own home.
Staying connected is not only important for your well-being, but it can also support others. With extra time on our hands, now is the perfect opportunity to check in on those that matter most to you. Reach out to that friend you’ve meant to catch up with, organize a family call, or simply brighten someone’s day. Trust me, it helps.
5. Challenge yourself and create something positive
I was bored and stressed, we were all. Everything becomes monotone. So, a few months ago, I decided to do something about it by creating a virtual sharing session where I invited various people from different backgrounds to talk about a particular issue.
The idea was simple. A platform to stay connected with other people and improve knowledge and skills while staying at home. I was extremely delighted when I learned that people are supporting this sharing session and find many benefits from it. This sharing session was certainly for free and anyone can register.
Therefore, I encourage you to do something different to reduce your stress and anxiety. It can be something like donating or volunteering with an organization you feel is making positive contributions, re-organizing your home workspace, cleaning your house, getting involved in any virtual activities, etc.
Work can be even more hectic for these stay-at-home days. No matter how well a machine is oiled, we all get swamped every now and then. Like Edgar Allan Poe said, “I became insane of long intervals of horrible sanity.”
Ride life like a wave. If you try to resist the wave, you’ll be knocked down and washed over. If you try to swim against the wave, you’ll be thrown back to the point where you started. The only thing that you can do to stay sane in a chaotic world is to ride the wave. It will take you where you need to go.
So, remind yourself that this is only temporary. Life is temporary. Everything in life is temporary. You are temporary. This pandemic is temporary. No matter how bad current situations are, it will eventually end. Suck it up and make it through. You have been through worse than this. Balance out your life and it will automatically become more make sense.
With love,
R
