A Guest Post by Emily Miller
Unfortunately, Covid has changed the way we look at things, especially our work routine. There are many challenges that are work-related, which are causing stress and it can all reflect on our work performance. Most of us are struggling with being productive, whether we go to work or we are working from home. No matter how you feel about the pandemic, it is bound to add more stress to your daily life. For all of you who find yourself stuck in this situation, here are the best ways to work under stress during Covid.
Set Up Virtual Social Events With Your Colleagues
If you are used to going to work every day and enjoying the company of your colleagues, not having that routine and social interaction can make things tough. Being completely alone while you are working can really make you more stressed and anxious. Instead of feeling like that, connect with your colleagues, reach out to them while you are working, set up Zoom calls to help each other out. It feels so much easier to be in a group of people who are going through the same thing and to know you have support.
Create A Daily Routine
Having a well-structured plan for your days will help you have clear boundaries. Dividing your day into smaller activities will allow you to feel less stressed and overwhelmed. When you spread things throughout the day and leave enough time for everything, you won’t feel like you’re drowning in work. Make sure that you take lunch breaks and regular breaks throughout your work hours. Don’t push yourself over the limit. When you push too hard you will feel very overwhelmed, anxious and the quality of your work will drastically worsen.
Seek Professional Support If you Need It
Feeling overwhelmed when you have to work in a situation of pandemic is normal, but if you notice that you aren’t able to deal with your emotions and come on top, there is nothing wrong with seeking professional support. Think about consulting with a performance coach who will help you to work on yourself. By learning new techniques to overcome your stress, you will be able to deal with similar situations in the future and that is always a positive thing.
Stay safe by taking appropriate precautions
If you are going to work, there is much more chance to get infected. Fear of knowing it’s a possibility can also put the pressure on you and cause stress. Being well informed and taking the appropriate measures to protect yourself can reduce the risk of getting Covid. You will feel more safe in knowing you did everything that is up to you.
Do Your Best To Be A Good Team Worker
When you are working from home, you are not actually communicating with people in person, so you have to be clear about your expectations. Communicate with your colleagues the same way you would like them to communicate with you. During these times it is very important that every employee tries hard to be a good team player. Do your best to discuss all the things that bother you and that you think need to be done better. Be clear about your schedule and work time so there aren’t any uncomfortable situations. It is very important for you to recognise other people’s values and listen to directions that you are given. Maintaining an open, two-way conversation, when you are not working in-person is the key for keeping a good workflow and communication going.
Creating a Work-life Balance is Key
Some people don’t struggle working from home, they enjoy it. Others, unfortunately, don’t feel that way as it does bring its own challenges. To some, it means more working hours and being isolated from people, so that makes them feel even more stressed. The line between personal life and work-life can eventually become blurred, but you can’t let your work take over your life. It can be really hard to make clear boundaries because you are working from home and not going to the office. It would be good to set up your corner where you can work without any distractions and make a strict schedule for your workday.
After you have done your work, disconnect from your workspace, allow yourself to recuperate and relax. It will benefit you in so many different ways, one of them being less stressed and becoming more productive in the long run. Spend time with your family if possible and enjoy things you like. This situation, as bad as it is, can be very helpful to all of us to see things more clearly and to focus on what’s really important.
[…] As a nurse, for instance, you not only need to understand how the human body works and how the emergency room procedures should be implemented, but also the fundamentals of human behavior. You need to know how to talk to people, calm them down, but also take the lead, and step up to a challenge in stressful situations. […]