Whoever thought that there will come a point in life when it will be compulsory for people to work from home? I had never imagined a life where I would stay locked up behind the doors of my own house from Monday to Saturday until the deadly virus struck the planet.
The Coronavirus pandemic has been a game-changer and people have had to come into terms with the situation to survive. Also, people have adopted new ways of living as we are warned that if we continue living normally, the virus will treat us abnormally. Life must move on and so should we.
One of the things that people have had to adapt to is working from home. This came as a shock for those who have never worked from home and I believe it has not been easy for everyone. You may find it boring and challenging at the same time.
As a real estate agent, most of the time I work from my home office and I understand what working from home means especially if you are living alone. People living with their families are better off but still, I believe that everyone needs help on how to make working from home a little bit fun.
In this article, I will reveal some activities that you can indulge in on your break while working from home to relieve stress.
Call and chat using your phone
After hours of staring at the screen of your computer, this is the time to check and get hold of your phone. You may find a few missed calls and messages from your friends, family, colleagues, or even your boss. If no one has looked for you then, this is the best chance to show them that you care by calling them and initiating a little chat. This is when you also get to talk to your colleagues and get updates about their experiences of working from home. This will leave you smiling, somehow encouraged, and feeling much better.
Check out new apps
You may have heard about new social media apps but never had the chance to learn how to use them. Now, this is your chance to join and try out the new social media apps like TikTok and zoom. Surf the internet and have fun exploring apps that you find interesting. Pick the ones that are easy and fun to use to make videos, chat, or even edit your photos.
Learn a new dance move
Well, I know dancing is not for everyone but there is nothing more fun to do in this world like dancing! Put your radio on, tune in your best channel, and let yourself loose for a few minutes. Dance to the rhythm of the songs without having to care how you move, you will have so much fun that you will even forget that you don’t know how to dance. Record your best move and share it with your friends on TikTok or Instagram.
Pamper yourself.
There is no better feeling than that of pampering yourself. It leaves you feeling refreshed and more appealing. You may try different makeup looks on your face and even take good face photos to show off on your social media accounts.
You can also pamper yourself by giving your skin a good treat by applying facial masks, exfoliating, steaming, and moisturizing your skin. The result will leave you feeling great!
Your toe and fingernails may be calling out for help after weeks of isolation and this is the best time to give them a new look. You can soak your feet, file your nails, and finish up by applying nail polish. After this, you cannot help falling in love with how your feet and fingernails look.
Try different hairstyles.
This is the time to break the monotony of having the same hairstyle all year round. You might be in love with your signature look but a different look might be just what you need to have them talking.
Watch youtube videos on different hairstyles that suite your face and you will be spoilt for choice. Trust me, this might just be the beginning of new things. Don’t forget to take good photos of yourself with different looks so that you can know the ones that bring out the best in you.
Match different outfits.
Along with the busy schedule of waking up, doing house chores, and sitting to work on your computer every day, you might forget how it feels to be in a decent outfit. These are the days you wake up and stay in your pajamas all day. This might give you that dull feeling as there is no need to dress up with nowhere to go during this quarantine.
Certainly, you need something to raise your spirits and make you feel good about yourself. Your wardrobe might play the trick! Pick a few outfits and try to match them (not how you are used to dressing) but differently. Take a look at the mirror and don’t stop until you get that look you’ve always wanted!
You might just discover that you have the same clothes but have a new look in each one of them matched differently.
Watch movies, videos/documentaries.
Another fun thing to do on your break while working from home is to watch short movies, videos, or documentaries. That moment of silence when you just sit and stick your eyes on the tv screen or your laptop can be quite relaxing. If you have Netflix then you have a wide variety of movies to choose from. Funny videos might leave you cracking your ribs and romantic movies might end up triggering all kinds of emotions within you which is refreshing to the brain. A documentary is as good since you get to learn about incredible things that have happened in real life. No doubt that this is a good way to escape from the stress that comes with work.
Listen to music
Music has a way of uplifting our spirits in times of distress. It’s considered a natural anti-depressant and it is said to lower stress levels. Visit your music gallery and select your favorite songs to play. Sing along, it doesn’t matter if you sing well or not. Just have fun with your vocals and for sure it will relax your mind.
Home work out
Exercise is recommended not only for physical fitness but also for mental relaxation. You can exercise at home by trying out some of the home work out videos for beginners on youtube to start with. You can then move to more intense workouts when you have longer breaks. Exercise will improve your brain health, regulate stress, and revitalize your system. If you can reserve at least 15 minutes of your break every day to work out and stretch, then that would be one of the best decisions of your life. You can be sure that working out will improve your moods and leave you feeling happier.
Try out a new recipe
Very few people have a clue that cooking is therapeutic in that it eases the mind and relaxes the body. Trying out a new recipe is one of the interesting things you can do on your break when working from home.
Pick the ingredients you have in your house and kill the curiosity of what it would taste like when you mix this and that. By being creative and concentrating on the preparation process, you get to nourish your brain and you can be sure that the result will leave you feeling even happier. The results might amaze you and such that you may want to share the recipe with your friends. And just like that, you have your new favorite delicacy on your menu!
Eat food and drink.
I don’t know if I am the only one who loves food but I guess you do too! It is not a crime to walk to your fridge and grab a snack in between your working hours during your break. Food is therapy and a drink may feel good as well. If you like coffee and tea like me, you will fix a cup or two and take it down with a crunchy snack.
Note that this is not time to sip wine or alcohol! Please stick to soft drinks only to remain focused and productive as you should be. We can’t deny the fact that food nourishes our bodies hence we see it as one of the most fundamental ways that our outer world communicates with our inner world.
Play computer/phone games.
We are lucky to be alive in a century where you cannot get bored as long as you have a phone or a computer. By the way, you don’t have to own one, you can also borrow. It doesn’t matter if there are people around you or not, you can still have so much fun playing games on your phone or computer. You can fill in challenging puzzles, play car racing games, crushing or stuff games and so much more. This is normally so refreshing and it can be addictive if you are not careful.
Read a book or magazine
Reading is a good practice as it engages your brain fully and requires concentration, commitment, and focus. Therefore, it is highly recommendable to have a good read during your break while working from home. Pick an interesting book or magazine and read a chapter or two to freshen your mind. It is also a good way to reduce stress by stimulating your imagination.
Read online articles
There are uncountable articles online covering a wide range of topics that you can choose from depending on your preferences. Reading different articles will not only excite you but also increase your knowledge of various subjects.
Try art
You don’t have to be an artist to draw or make creative stuff. Art involves imagining things and translating them into something physical. Be calm and dive into your thoughts and write whatever comes into your mind. You can also paint a drawing out of your instantaneous feelings. This will allow you to express your feelings and relieve you from overwhelming emotions. You might be surprised at the kind of magic you create!
Reorganize stuff in your house
You may want to give different parts of your house a different outlook during this quarantine. Take time to rearrange maybe your wardrobe, change your bed position, your drawers, or sitting room arrangement. You can do this on different days over your breaks. It can make you feel as if you are in a new house.
Update your diary
Write about how you feel about your day, work, love life/relationship, spiritual life, health, or various situations in your life. This will help you offload your thoughts and unwind. You can figure out the thoughts you scribbled, later on, to help you live better.
Play with your pet or kid
If you are living with your family or have a pet, this is a good time to play and bond. You can play around the house or the garden area if you have one. This will help improve your relationship.
