Working from home?

[Doook]

I imagine there are a few of you locked up in isolation or working from home. As sufferers of anxiety and depression does anyone have any tips in managing their mental health When isolated? I have to self isolate for a fortnight in a country I just moved to, starting a new job so only so much work from home I can do..

[Cantique]

I'm getting up early to go for a walk, increasing phone calls, avoiding the news and basically just trying to keep busy. I've started to learn the piano as well. I find I can't really concentrate on TV? But my goodness time is going soooo slowly. Keep well Doook.

[BeReel1010]

I suffer from both, the thing that helps me the most is exercise or just keeping busy cleaning/de-cluttering. It’s still chilly where I am and even snowed this morning but the fresh air helps calm me down. Also reading books or playing video games that are interactive such as Call of Duty etc. help the time go by faster. It’s very hard being stuck inside never mind in a different country. This forum is also a great to read, so much great information on here. Sometimes I’ll start reading and I loose track of time.

[Orange rabbit]

I have been working from home now over 15 years. And when I am not home I travel for work.
It was hard whe I first started to work from home. I would do everything except the work I needed to do and then would be up until 10pm every night trying to get work done. Eventually I realized I had to change something. So I would get up at my normal time, take a shower and get dressed as if I was going to work in the office. I put makeup on, did my hair, the works. The only thing that was different is I didn’t put a suit on. Depending on the time of year I was in shorts or sweats/pants. The I would go down stairs make my coffee and sit down at my desk to work. Eventually this became my routine but let me say, it took awhile. I made sure I took a lunch and some days when it was warm I would go for a swim. Now many, many years later, I can’t even imagine working in an office. My days are packed, I’m always on the phone or Skype or whatever. I make sure I always take breaks, sometimes a short walk in the afternoon. Doing that brings a whole new,perspective to the day. One thing I did learn the hard way was to make sure the camera on my computer had a cover. Yes it’s what you are thinking, I had a conference call and that morning I rolled out of bed, still in my flannel pj’s and got on skype. Yikes, you guessed it. Everyone on the call saw what I looked like when I woke up. Lol.

So my words of wisdom are.....takes breaks , go for short walks, when it’s warm open all the windows, and for most of you know it is not forever and you can do this

OR

[IceWizard]

Great advise OR ...

In your jammies huh?? Now that is funny stuff ...

Ok, maybe not from your point of view

Stay vigilante people, this stuff may hang around for a long minute...

Prepare for it to hang around and if it don't ... Great!!, at least you were prepared

Ice

[Orange rabbit]

Ice,
The pj had all kinds of colorful troll dolls on them no less!

Yes embarrassed like you can’t you believe.

OR

[seeker47]

I can’t do my job from home. My only issue with self isolation is eventually running out of food.

[Doook]

Thanks for your tips guys. I can’t leave the house but trying to stick to as much of a regular routine as much as possible. Lots of reading and research in prep for getting back to work in a couple of weeks so I don’t go mad

[barq2]

Thanks for the tips. Working from home is new to me. I already miss the casual interaction with my colleagues - I could do with a joke and a laugh right now and I imagine others feel the same. Anyone else missing their colleagues?

There is a definite strain on internet connectivity - mobile internet just wasn't working in the big cities. Home internet is ok, but feels a bit slower than normal. I won't put more strain on it by speed testing it. There is still enough bandwidth for Netflix and BBC iPlayer. It is mostly fast enough for work.

My job involves public speaking so I am being asked to make videos instead. Their technical demands are really high - like it needs to be high definition 1080p, lit properly, and with good audio. It is almost like they expect staff to have a small TV studio in their home! It is very odd doing the talks without an audience. I am a very interactive public speaker and normally do an hour of speaking without notes. I can sort of feel whether I'm bringing the audience with me or if I've lost them, but that only works live and not when recorded.

I'd normally rely on humour or irony to make it more entertaining, but that's a very social thing - it happens with a live audience but feels awkward in front of a camera. Also, and this will sound silly, before my current career I trained in acting and have been in a few movies and TV shows. It was absolutely drilled into us as students never to look at the lens of the camera. Now I'm being asked to do a different type of performance where I should be looking down the lens. I guess old habits are hard to break!

The other thing is I suddenly had to worry about what was in the background! I couldn't have it looking messy or use my bedroom, so I'm moving things around in the house to have a more dedicated work area.

Orange Rabbit - thanks for the tips. I agree totally about preparing yourself as though you are going to work and taking breaks/walks.

[happyvibe]

Hey all. I so miss my colleagues at work. Being busy at work and interacting with others kept me out of my own head. This feeling of isolation is very hard.

@barq. I’m doing the same and moving my camera around to make it look like my apartment is less messy. I try and freshen up before I get on a Skype call. Little do they know I’m in my sweats!

I took the advice from this board to get dressed today and do makeup as if I was going to work. Def made me feel better. Ystd I was in a deep depression but today I feel better.

I’m glad I gave this board to come to for advice.
Not sure if anyone here is into social media but there are some humorous and uplifting things on Instagram. Laughing helps a lot right now. Even if it’s just for a moment.

Love to all.
D