Get in the zone for staying at home.......................

'You don't know what you've got till it's gone' seems rather appropriate for these unpredictable times. Who would have thought we would all be craving normality at the start of the week......The hectic household preparing for the day, the rush hour madness to get the children to school and ourselves to work etc all of a sudden sounds like a dream rather than just another manic Monday.

For some of us, working from home will be an unknown scenario, for others (including me), it is something we are a bit more used to but no matter what your situation was before any of this, it is different now, we are loosing an element of freedom which most of us (again, including me) are so used to taking for granted.

My advice for anyone new to working from home:

• Set routines - of course you can be a bit more flexible (no directors tracking time spent making brews - wahay), but routine from day one will help keep productivity flowing and also help with the ability to switch off at the end of the shift despite being in the same building when the working day ends. We are, after all, creatures of habit - set the right habits.
• If possible, set up a designated working area, again it will help with the end of day 'switch off' and with organisation. I don't have a home office :-( but I do have a working area and I never sit in that chair or at that desk, unless I am working. If you have no option but the dining room table then consider a rule of set up / pack up every day so that work is out of sight when it's family time.
• Get dressed, seriously, get dressed, at least on the majority of days (even if it's joggers and a hoody). Working in PJ's somehow seems like a treat, but don't set it as a standard, we may be in isolation but again, there needs to be a difference between home life and work life even when work is at home. If you don't follow a morning routine the mind takes longer to switch off from last nights dreams and focus on toady's goals.
• Take breaks! Before I'd experienced working from home I used to think I bet it's great to take breaks whenever you want but when I first started I used to get lost in the work due to having no distractions and not move at all for 8+ hours at a time which is never a good thing. I now have a dog who solved that, if I don't take a break every 4 hours to go outside with her then I have to take a break to clean the carpet when she gets her revenge (sake!). When planning the days schedule, set yourself breaks and stick to them.

Children at home? EEK!

Well at least that's the break bit sorted, 'Mum', 'Mum', 'Muuuuuuuummmmm!' this is not going to be easy but, again, routine is key. Schedule the days as much as possible so that the children feel the same kind of security they get from their structured days at school.

Also, whilst we are talking children, let them talk too - about this - because each and every one of us needs someone to express our true worries to right now, children more so, their lives have just changed in a huge way with school closing and they will probably have been hearing as much about the virus as we have, whether via trusted sources i.e teachers and the news or utter bull**** from the playground & made up social media 'info'. They need to be able to ask questions, the greatest fear in life is the fear of the unknown!

Now for some mental health tips:

I am in no way an expert, but a few things that may help some of you during these crazy times:

• Write down three things during each day that you have been thankful for, it could be as simple as 'my cup of tea in the morning' or 'the sunshine when I opened the curtains' but try it every day, just three things you have appreciated - however basic, after a week or so of this the mind will start to recognise more often, how much you enjoy something that is usually overlooked.
• Try not to 'compare' your worries with those of others, you may not know the full story, those rich neighbors who don't have to worry about paying the mortgage might have a poorly relative that they are not allowed to visit. The colleagues who have no family disturbing them whilst working from home could end up suffering from intense loneliness if we go into total lock down. Be kind. Do not compare your world to another which you know little about.
• Communicate - we have so many ways to do so, do it for your own good as well as the good of others. A simple 'how are you?' could stop someone else's day from being a whirlwind of worry, the elderly and vulnerable that are alone - text them. The friend who is surrounded by family in a busy household - text them too - because you don't have to be alone to feel lonely!

Finally, my best friend, my rock in life, is a Nurse - I will never know what it is truly like to face what she is experiencing day to day but I want to finish by saying - to all those on the front line - you are strong, brave and amazing people! From the bottom of my heart, thank you!

Samantha Mitcham - 23.03.20