Due to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, our lives have been shifted. In an effort to flatten the curve and reduce the spread of this catastrophic virus, many employers have implemented teleworking as a means to continue serving customers and providing income for employees.

During the early stages of teleworking, the motivation was high. Working in pajamas while camped out on the coach was a welcomed change from the daily hustle and bustle of being at the office. If you’re anything like me, you may have spent your lunch break with your fur-babies or went for a nice midday stroll. That was Week 1. As of now, some are at least four weeks in and are running into issues “unplugging” from work.

Due to social distancing, we no longer have the option to roll out to the beach or catch up with a friend or two for drinks and dinner. At this point, nearly all fitness centers in the WORLD are closed. You don’t have the option to get a quick muscle pump or sweat it out with the crew at Hot Yoga… bummer!

Although it may seem like all is lost, there are plenty of things you can do to unwind after a long day’s stint of teleworking.

In no particular order, here are five ways to unwind during the pandemic:

1. Gaming – Yeah, you read that right. PC, console and even mobile gaming can allow time to decompress by giving your mind a break from the seriousness of working your day to day job. Depending on the game, in a matter of minutes you’re transported from your couch to a virtual reality of mystic madness, detailed story plots and mayhem. Classics games like Tetris, Pac-Man and many others are also great options when looking to unwind.
2. Exercise – Just because your gym is closed that does not mean you’re doomed to be a couch potato! Pop in a Yoga DVD (or watch on YouTube), Pilates, any program from BeachBody or bust out the dance moves to try your hand at Zumba! It is worth noting that classic VHS tapes from legends like Billy Blanks, Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons exercise videos have made a huge comeback during this pandemic. Search these videos on YouTube because even if you don’t get up and exercise, you’ll be sure to get a hearty laugh at the outfits from “the olden times.” If the weather is nice, a nice walk or jog outside works too.
3. Reading… but for fun! – You must resist the urge to read anything related to work! Nonfiction books are a great option if fiction isn’t your cup of tea. For this to be a true way to unwind and relax, keep your reading to topics you enjoy or may have wanted to learn more about but just never had the time. No reading T.P.S. Reports!
4. Group Activities with Your Quarantine Mate(s) aka Family Activities – If your’e lucky (or unlucky) enough to have others sharing your home, you have a good opportunity to strengthen bonds in some really fun ways. Card games, board games and dance battles are all fair game here! Playing a few rounds of 21 Questions will allow you to learn more about your children or roommates. Get creative here. If you live alone, reach out to a friend to coordinate an eSlumber Party or eMovie Date. Connect on Skype, Zoom or FaceTime to spend virtual time with the special people in your life.
5. Binge Watching a New Show – Let’s be honest and admit that you won’t stop at just one episode and just call it like it is! Binge watching! We all do it, even if we don’t always want to admit it. Sometimes vegging out and plowing through a few episodes of a new show or streaming a movie is a much needed break. You’ve been teleworking HARD all week… you deserve this! Relax and enjoy your show, guilt free.

These are unprecedented times that we are navigating. Being creative is a must if we are to preserve our sanity.  What are some ways you’ve found to unwind after teleworking? Let me know in the comments.

Until next time… Live well and Inspire!