The outbreak of COVID-19 has left many New Brunswickers to work from home. This environment is a new working space for many, making productivity hard to come by.  

In this article, the NBWIB team will give you a run-down of the do's and don'ts about working from home, from our perspective.  

DON'T 

• Don’t sleep in every day. Aim to get seven to eight hours of sleep each night! Proper sleep improves mood, weight, and functionality!

• Don't procrastinate. It's essential to start working earlier in the day. This lessens the chances of putting off work for a prolonged period, allows you to get the most out of your day, and increases the chances of going to bed on time!

• Don't work all day AND night. This increases your chance of burnout, and you'll likely be more unproductive in the long run. After you cross off your essential "to-dos," put those work tools down. Yes, your laptop counts. Take some time for yourself to unwind and separate your personal life from your work life!

• Don’t snack 24/7 or eat tons of junk food. The side effects of eating well are known to improve mood and increase productivity.  Instead, eat when your body tells you to and try to eat food that is nutritionally dense.

• Don’t regularly check social media. Have a designated time for surfing the web (best if it's during work breaks). If you struggle with this, then set social media limits (if you have an iPhone you can do this in your settings). We know TikToks can be addicting, but trust us, you’ll get wayyy more out of your day!

• Don’t ignore your finances. The recent outbreak has altered financial situations for many. By making a budget, you can figure out how this virus has affected your personal situation. Alternatively, if you have a budget in place already, reassess its validity, given the current economic climate.  There are tons of resources online if you need help creating a budget!

DO 

• Keep using your organizational tools such as calendars, to-do lists, plans, agendas. Even though it may feel like our schedules aren't as full because we can't go to the office or school, it doesn't mean we have to throw them on the back burner altogether. Even challenge yourself to fill up your schedule with personal and work activities. Having a structured day can help you normalize a routine!

• Connect with people (while staying six feet part) utilize tools like Slack and Zoom to connect with co-workers, team members, business connections, family and friends! Although you cannot see all of them in person doesn't mean you can’t communicate!

• Work smart – experiment what works best for you. Many recommend making a private office in a quiet part of the house while others prefer to work in a shared space with other people. Some prefer to listen to soft music while working, while others prefer loud music, some may even prefer silence. Some say they work in blocks (for example: working three hours in the morning and two after dinner). Others go on about standing desks and have DIY standing desks in their homes. There's no right or wrong, just try them all and determine which methods keep you productive!

• Most importantly, take care of yourself. This will directly affect how motivated you are to work and how much you can get done. Self-care encompasses all of the following...  

  • Take time out of each day to go over your personal privileges and what you're thankful for.  

  • Keep your mental-state in vision. Try to be aware of when your mood starts is down and analyze what could be causing such. Then, try to fix the source of the problem and alter your processes.

  • Spend an appropriate amount of time with friends via voice calls and social media.  

  • So long as your situation permits, try to spend time with family outdoors or doing other kinds of activities. If this isn't possible, do the same with whomever you live with.  

  • Exercise regularly. Pair this with stretching and your body will thank you! 

  • Spend time outside regularly. Fresh air can clear the mind and increase productivity. 

  • Eat well and drink lots of water. If this is something you struggle with, there are TONS of apps to help with such. You don't need to lose weight or restrict your diet, just make sure you're eating plenty of whole foods and stray away from highly processed foods.

  • Read books on your downtime. The blue light from the phone and TV screens can disrupt your sleep cycle, so reading is an excellent alternative to binge-watching TV before bed (yes, it is best to turn off Tiger King).  

  • Work on long-term projects or start a new project. This could be learning how to code, building a blog, investing in stocks, etc. anything counts as long as it makes you happy! :)

  • It is equally important to have "anti-workdays" in your schedule. These days, you do whatever you want. Whether it's watching your favourite show, hiking with your family, drinking your favourite wine, or having a spa day. After "anti-workdays," you'll be extremely motivated to get back into the swing of things.  

With so many hours in the day, more time can now be spent on things that weren't a priority during our everyday routine before COVID-19. During your time at home, you can work on yourself, your mind, your health, and hobbies that make you happy. Using the tips we've provided you with, we hope you'll be more productive in all of your endeavors. Keep working hard, hun! 

- The NBWIB Team 

DISCLAIMER: We are in no way licensed physicians, suggestions in this blog are coming from those who are not licensed. We are in no way liable for consequences resulting if following suggestions outlined in this blog. We are in no way affiliated with any companies, shows, or products mentioned in this blog post.