Ways to Win at Self-Care in a WFH World

By: Sara Leeds / April 6th, 2020

Ask anyone around the world what’s on their minds right now and it will be the COVID-19 health crisis. The pandemic has undoubtedly altered our lives from here on out. One of the more noticeable changes for us ~professional ladies~ is working from home (WFH) to maintain social distancing.

Although it’s important to be grateful that we have jobs that can be done from home, new challenges arise as the boundary between work and personal are inevitably blurred. It can be pretty distracting when you’re in the middle of a conference call and mom is asking what you want for lunch.

So how does self-care come in? Most of us likely think self-care means throwing on a face mask and Real Housewives before bed. But when acclimating to a WFH world, incorporating some self-care habits into your 9-5 can actually make this time much more productive and enjoyable. Before we get started – let’s check in with Merriam-Webster on what exactly self-care is:

self-care /ˌselfˈker/ noun

the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one's own health.

After asking myself, my friends and the Internet, here are some of the top self-care solutions that can help you thrive during your WFH days:

Build Boundaries (Literally)

As tempting as it is, don't work in bed! Making an effort to define and create an area for working and an area for living outside of work can boost productivity and maintain mental clarity. If your current quarantine quarters are a little tight, just tucking your supplies in a bag at the end of the day can do the trick. I personally gain a sense of calm knowing my laptop is out of sight out of mind at the end of a hard day.

Take a Lap

I bet you $100 that if you go on Instagram right now you will see someone posting a livestream workout. While a regular exercise routine is especially important in times like these, it’s not so easy to swing a 50-minute HIIT class in the middle of a workday. Check your calendar and find some gaps that allow you to take a walk around the park/block/hallway/whatever you’ve got! Whether you listen to some music, a favorite podcast or simply silence, those 10 minutes can have some big benefits.

Meditate… or Get a Laugh in

Another great way to spend those 10-minute breaks is meditating. I like this one off YouTube. If meditation isn’t quite your thing, YouTube is also a great place to put the pause on work with a good laugh. Some of my favorites are Ellen and Jimmy Fallon clips.

Virtual Coffee Dates

While not every coworker is bound to be your best friend, not sitting with our teams can get pretty lonely. Schedule virtual coffee dates throughout your week to catch up, blow off some steam or just say hi.

None of the Above

The “self” in self-care means that this stuff is highly personal, so if none of these acts work for you that’s perfectly ok! According to Alison Midollo, Wellness Coach and Founder of the Self Care Squeeze Program, “You’re probably not taking a bubble bath in the middle of conference calls. Self-care is bioindividual - what my self-care ritual is might not satisfy yours. Anything that makes you feel like you’re nourishing your body or your mind counts.”

So take a moment to think what your acts of self-care can be. You might be surprised to find you’re already doing it!

Sara Leeds is a 2016 Tulane graduate currently working in Management Consulting and Innovation Design at Accenture. In an effort to make the job marketplace equitable and navigable for recent grads, she founded Profesh where she offers resources tailored to young professionals.