Millions of workers are at home observing the social distancing guidelines or self-isolating with symptoms as the Covid-19 crisis escalates. In these testing times, it’s critical that those employees who are also working from home take positive steps to delineate, unplug and take care of their mental and physical health.
Without access to some of the employee benefits and perks that usually help workers strike a healthier work/life balance, destress and switch off, what else is out there online and on our screens to help us better manage this massive change not only in the way we work but the way we live?
4 inspirational ideas to improve your well-being
1. Get ‘outside’
Take a virtual tour of your favourite attractions or calming places. Spend an hour or two exploring galleries and museums like Tate Modern and the National Portrait Gallery in London or the Louvre in Paris. Or take a virtual stroll around one of the Royal Parks or Kew Garden in London, or Claude Monet’s Garden in Giverney, France. Find more inspirational tours here and here.
2. Learn something new
Use your time to learn everything you’ve always wanted to:
- Explore OpenLearn, the home of free learning from the Open University. With 900 courses on offer, there’ll be something for everyone.
- Open Culture lists 1,500 free online courses from top universities including Oxford and Harvard. You’ll also find free language lessons, eBooks, business courses and a whole lot more.
- Borrow a virtual book – with physical libraries closed, the National Emergency Library has opened up an internet archive so that people across the globe can read its nearly 1.5 million books. Have a browse.
- BBC Arts is launching its Culture in Quarantine series.
3. Join a virtual book club
This is the perfect time to start, or join, a book group. If this isn’t something that can be set up with colleagues, then join the legions of readers who are turning to Zoom, Google Hangouts, Twitter and Instagram to discuss the latest page-turner.
- Goodreads – the world’s largest community of book lovers has lots of book clubs that cover every genre and taste
- Salon London – the big ideas salon has launched a fortnightly book club with live author talks streamed via YouTube.
- Join the Big Scottish Book Club here or find a suitable club across the UK here.
4. Keep exercising
With just an hour a day outside for one single exercise, Zoom, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube have become virtual gyms, Pilates, Yoga, meditation and dance studios. There’s a really helpful list of classes here from The Independent.
A final thought…
Our IT and technology are our lifeline right now to connect with family, friends and the outside world that has moved inside. We hope you find something inspirational to help you take better care of your well-being as you adjust to the new normal for now.
Meanwhile, stay safe and let’s all take care of each other. We’re here if you need our help.