Over the past weeks and months, the COVID-19 crisis has touched all of our lives. Some states may be beginning a cautiously guided reopening phase, but there’s no telling which restrictions will remain in place and for long. The situation is, in a word, unprecedented. With such rapid and seismic change—whether that change means losing your job or doing it in a whole new way—it’s only natural that people are feeling a little down and struggling to adjust. The effects of the pandemic and our response to it are taking a toll on the mental health of millions. If we don’t begin to work on our own wellness quickly, it’s all too easy to feel disconnected, disenchanted, and hopeless. 

For many of us, the workplace isn’t just a place of professional obligation. While at work, we form meaningful social relationships, ones which aren’t easily replicated from home. We frequent the restaurants around our workplaces, restaurants that we may not have been in for months at this point. Losing these makes our lives inherently less vibrant, so it’s no wonder many people are feeling acutely lonely. Even if you are fortunate enough to still be working and can feasibly do your job well from home, that doesn’t make you immune to the mental toll a totally restructured life can take. The simple fact is that like many aspects of our lives that we once took for granted, the things that provide us balance, satisfaction, and joy are now operating under different terms. If you don’t adjust, it’s easy for a vacuum to form. 

Building on the Basics

Before we can begin to address the loss of hobbies and interactions that result from social distances, we need to start on the ground floor. There are certain foundational needs all humans require to function optimally. The three biggest ones are nutrition, exercise, and sleep. If you don’t have these three pillars in alignment, you will suffer. Given how much you’ve had to alter your life in recent weeks, you have a pretty good excuse for letting these pillars get out of whack. However, the longer you ignore them, the worse you’ll feel. Now that you’ve had time to adjust to the basics of remote work, you need to focus on harmonizing it with a remote life.

Eating healthier from home can be accomplished by cooking for yourself rather than relying on takeout. You can even get CSA boxes from local farms delivered, depending on where you live. Compliment good eating habits with exercise, even if it’s just a daily walk or brief workout routine in your living room. Hiking and parks are accessible in most states, so if you can maintain safe distance and engage in best practices, there’s no harm in getting out and about. As far as sleep, it’s super important that your home office doesn’t take over your entire home. Turn off, disconnect, relax, and call it a day. The temptation to work at all times is immense for some, but you’ll feel better and work better if you resist it. 

Filling the void

If you’ve assessed these wellness essentials and still find life at home to be lacking, you’re going to need to take an active role in creating meaningful fun for yourself. I promise you that you’re not alone in this regard. The New York Times has created an entire new section devoted to “At Home” lifestyle activities. When it comes to solving these issues, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Some people have hobbies that translate well to our new reality, others will have to find workarounds. (Zoom party games, anyone?) If you’re the type of person who doesn’t naturally gravitate toward cultivating these kinds of interests, you may have to work harder to develop them. Think about passions you had in childhood or things you’ve always wanted to pick up. 

You can also supplement these hobbies by practicing some mindfulness techniques. For me personally, taking some time out of my day to do guided meditation or go through a yoga routine is just as much of a balm now as it was when it gave me a break from the office mentality, if not more so. I don’t know about you, but my life is no less hectic when I’m working from home. I still need to find moments to recenter and refocus. I’m willing to bet that you do too. 

I know some of this may sound secondary, but having fun and being engaged are as crucial to our lives as work is. When you lose sight of the things that provide color and flavor to your daily experience, whether by the threat of a pandemic or for any other reason, your mental health and wellness are bound to suffer. Even if you’ve got a handle on this whole work-from-home thing, make sure that you’re not overlooking yourself.