Tag Archives: Quarantine

Apr26

How to Survive Quarantining With Kids

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How to Survive Quarantining With Kids

Last week, we talked about how to create a routine that works, and why routines are important to help you be more productive and efficient throughout your day. This is especially helpful if you work from home or if you are doing shift work. 

Speaking of working from home…how many of you have the graceful blessing but the extra complication of working from home with kids? I’d understand if you’re too tired to raise your hand. During the pandemic, a lot of working parents have discovered the joys of being able to stay at home and look after their kids as they quarantine together. At the same time, a lot of working parents have also discovered that they suddenly have to work twice as hard when quarantining with kids, once as a working from home professional and twice as a stay at home parent. 

Not all work from home set-ups are created equal. If you’re a freelancer or have always been working from home pre-pandemic, chances are you have more flexibility and control over your time. If you are working from home because of the quarantine, there’s a big possibility that your office is going to expect you to stick to routines and operation hours. It will be business as usual but in a work from home setting.

This distinction is what will make or break your quarantining with kids experience. Obviously, parents who have more flexibility can work around their children’s feeding schedule, playtime, nap time, or online school activities. These tips are for the parents who find working from home with kids, more challenging.

Share the responsibility

If you and your spouse are both working from home, then you have to discuss child care first and foremost. If you haven’t, do it now before it turns into a fight. You both have to understand that child care has to be a shared responsibility and that you are going to have to take turns looking after your children.

Work child care into your schedule

If you can afford it, work broken hours so that you can incorporate your children’s routine into yours. Wake up earlier then they do so that you can get in a few quiet hours to yourself to do your morning routine or get some work done. Once they’re up, you can get breakfast together and prepare them for class. Once they’re in online classes, you can probably knock out some conference calls at the same time while they’re busy with lessons. Share your alternative schedule with your boss and ask for a bit of flexibility. 

Be an early bird

This will not work for everyone, especially those who work with teams or are sticking to business hours. The alternative is to wake up early and do as much prep as you can for the day. Here are some things that you can prep for:

  • Snacks and Meals (you can also do your meal prep on weekends)
  • Outfits (kids and yours)
  • Work/Study area (make sure gadgets are charged and earphones are available)
  • Pet food and water
  • Clean up (quick clean areas like desks and kitchen counters)

Make sure to get everyone (even the kids) onboard and create an area dedicated only for work from home related activities. That means the kids should understand that they are not allowed in that “no-kids zone”. Ask for help. You can enlist the help of older kids to take care of the younger ones as well. What are your survival tips for quarantining with kids? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp

Nov23

3 Things To Do To Get Over Quarantine Fatigue

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3 Things To Do To Get Over Quarantine Fatigue

It’s almost the end of the year, and we have yet to see the end in sight of this pandemic crisis. A lot of people are experiencing ‘quarantine fatigue’. Quarantine fatigue is different for everyone but it is generally the feeling of “exhaustion associated with a confining lifestyle due to locally imposed pandemic restrictions. Yes, quarantine fatigue is a real thing. It is the fatigue felt by people who experience the complex challenge of extreme physical and social distancing. This feeling, coupled with economic hardships can cause psychological damage, especially to people who already have depression and anxiety even before the crisis started. 

Reverting to the old version of ‘normal’ is now out of the question since vaccines aren’t readily available yet and probably won’t be available for quite a while. Public health and safety campaigns from governments all over the world are discouraging social gatherings and for good reason. New cases continue to rise and the only way to manage this alarming increase is by social distancing. 

So what should people do to alleviate the feeling of ‘quarantine fatigue’? 

  1. Do something you have to do – this includes doing the things that are expected of you like familial responsibilities and daily work. Quite a few of us are experiencing debilitating and crippling anxiety that it is an overwhelming task to even get out of bed in the morning. If it gets too hard, you are entitled to take a break for your mental health. Once you are strong enough to get back into the rhythm of things, you must try to find the motivation to face the tasks of tackling your responsibilities. You need to go back to work in order to pay the bills and put food on the table. Take care of the basics.
  2. Do something you want to do – this is what will get you through hard times. Always remember to take care of yourself first. You cannot pour from an empty cup. So, do what you must in order to take care of yourself. Self-care activities aren’t just limited to massages, scented candles, or face masks. Self-care can also be about continuous learning, crafting, catch-ups with friends or family, or even scheduling time in your diary to watch your favorite binge-worthy series. 
  3. Do something for others – it is easy for people to retreat into themselves in times of crisis in the hopes that everything will blow over once they come out of their safe place. However, one way to overcome adversity is to understand that we are not facing these challenges alone. By helping other people, you will understand that it doesn’t matter if this thing is bigger than you, you can still make a difference. Studies show that giving is good for your health. Generous behavior is closely associated with reduced risk of illness and mortality and lower rates of depression. So if you are battling anxiety and depression. It is a good idea to donate to charity or volunteer your time.

How are you coping with quarantine fatigue? Do you have tips to combat quarantine induced anxiety? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp