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Personally, putting on a pair of jeans isn't the worst thing in the world for me. It makes me feel like whatever I'm doing that day, as menial as it may be, is somehow productive. Maybe this isn't an everyday thing (it definitely isn't for me), but even just the act of wearing "outside" clothes can motivate you to head out for a walk this afternoon. It's good for you!
For a lot of us, our "me" time is our commute. Listening to podcasts, audiobooks or the daily news in the morning was a key part of our routine to mentally get ready for the day. Even if you normally just pop in some music while walking, that's soothing! Try to simulate that: Pick up where you left off in your latest podcast episode or book chapter before starting work for the day.
Nope, not easy. When you don't have a laundry list of things to do before you need to be at work in the morning (hair, makeup, pack a lunch, drop off the kids), it can be nearly impossible to wrench yourself out of bed these days. My advice? Even if you just lay in bed playing Candy Crush, wake up! Your sleep schedule will (eventually) thank you.
Since you're already home at the end of the workday, there's no real hard log-off point. You don't have a train to catch or a dog-walker to relieve. Even so, don't get so caught up in work that suddenly it's 7 p.m. and you're deep in an Excel sheet with no dinner. Maintain relatively normal working hours so that you still have time for your typical weekday, after-work activities.
I'm defining "little things" as the small, bright moments that make your weeks in the office more bearable. The 2 p.m. coffee run you make with your co-workers, for example, or the Thursday evening happy hours. Use your work calendar for good and make sure you're still making time for those (virtual) moments of stress relief.
Here's a luxury you may not have had in the office: working outside! If you're lucky enough to have a backyard, rooftop or even just a front stoop, turn it into your little work haven. The weather's getting nicer, so find a patch of sunshine and some shades and enjoy the fresh air.
So, your gym is closed. And you tried the home workout thing, and it's just not quite working. Nevertheless, endorphins are real, and exercise will make them happen. You can make it as serious or fun as you need it to be: take the stairs two at a time, do sprints on the sidewalk in front of your house, challenge the kids to a hula-hoop competition. Just keep it movin'!
Not silly, I promise. Being out of a routine can wreak havoc on mental health, so it's important to stay in tune with where your thoughts are going and lean on any available resources. One that's free? An empty notebook that's yours and yours only to document everything you're feeling while life is in limbo.
Did you always make your bed before work normally? Well, keep to it. Yeah, I know, you're probably going to take a 3 p.m. nap anyway, because you can, but there are literal studies that say making the bed sets you up for success. Don't cave on this small but significant part of your routine.
Even if this wasn't a part of your typical routine, make it one. Staying hydrated can make a world of difference to how energized you feel throughout the day, and you're sitting a lot more than usual these days, so give your muscles some love!