One of the side effects of the coronavirus pandemic has been a disruption in people’s daily schedules. Such disruptions can reduce our productivity and even effect our mental health. 

Both staff and peers at Perry Wellness Center are experiencing huge changes to our schedules. Staff are either working from home, coming to work briefly when others aren’t there, or taking time away from work. Peers are moving from a very structured day to lots of time on their own. While all of us may enjoy some time away from the “daily grind,” that feeling can quickly turn to frustration, anxiety, or loneliness.

Recently, we found a very informative article that we thought might be helpful to many of our readers, whose work, school, and personal lives have changed drastically in the last few weeks. Maribeth Savoie and Kell Wilkinson, program managers with the organization Active Minds, recently published an article, “Tips to Stay Mentally Well While Working from Home.” The article provides 9 tips for temporary stay-at-home workers, students, and parents.

We encourage readers to check out the entire article, but a summary of the tips includes the following:

Create personal and work-related daily routines.

Choose a quiet, regular work space and keep it clean and organized.

Have regular, nutritious meals and keep yourself hydrated throughout the day.

Plan ahead for supplies, schedule, etc.

Take “smart” breaks throughout the day.

Set boundaries for yourself to separate work and personal time.

Establish expectations with others.

Try to do things you would normally do at work or in school.

Give yourself patience and grace.

In difficult times, it’s important to remind ourselves that all of us struggle with mental health issues  -- anxiety, depression, etc., in unusual circumstances, even if we do not have a chronic mental illness. Learning new life skills can help reduce the pressure and improve our ability to cope with new challenges.

Active Minds is an advocacy and educational organization focused on the mental health of young people. Above photo and tips summary come from the Active Minds website.