Its been over a year now since we have been condemned to social distance ourselves from our loved ones. I know anxiety and depression has increased as a result of the pandemic. Our bodies may have seemed be growing fat molecules double time since we have been isolated. To help gain some control over our lives again, I have included some tips to help you remain productive while being socially isolated.

1. Create a schedule… and stick to it Just because you aren’t going out as often doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep to a schedule. When you are social distancing or working from home, its important to make sure that you schedule out your day and include your working hours; when you will take a break; when you will exercise and when you will take a mental break. When you don’t keep a schedule, it can be easy for you to get caught up into your job, or other endeavors, that you won’t have any time for self care or physical activity.  If you find yourself unable to complete all of your tasks scheduled for that day, then put less things on your schedule for next time..
2. Reach out to loved ones more. Times are tough and if you aren’t close with your family then it may be time to do rekindle some ties. We all have family members who are more vocal than others so if you know that some of your quieter relatives haven’t been on your radar in a while, reach out to them. A phone call or loving text would be most welcome.
3. Exercise… even if you don’t want to.  The benefits of exercise go far beyond physique. It also helps to clear out cellular waste in the brain which can slow down productivity. Exercise also helps to increase endorphins which will get you in a better mood to tackle those tasks that you have been procrastinating. It doesn’t even have to be strenuous exercise either. Just a 20-30 minute can be enough to help reduce stress; increases memory; lower your risk of diabetes; increase mood, increase weight loss and reduce the risk of heart disease. It may also help if you can do an at home workout via Zoom with some family or friends in order to reduce the feeling of being isolated.
4. Take time to clear your mind. Its hard to stay productive when you are overwhelmed with the never ending list of tasks that continue to fill your calendar.  When I was working at the CDC, our Roybal fitness facility had a meditation room for employees to go to just relax and quiet their minds. You should be able to have a space of your own whether its a corner in your office or a closet at home. Taking time to quiet your mind so you can get a true grasp on what’s really important  Just 5-10 minutes of meditation or listening to calming music can do wonders to your mind in terms of reducing stress and increasing clarity. Doing some yoga or light stretching with deep breathing can also bring the same mental clarity that meditation can elicit. 
5. Make a list and stick to it. I know how tempting it can be to stop what you are doing to take care of a smaller task, but doing this can lead to bad habits. Its important to stick to your schedule for each day. When you are making your daily to-do list, make sure you are scheduling your to-do list in order of urgency. If something comes up that needs to be done, then put it on the bottom of your list or schedule it to be done later in the week. If you have a task that you know will take more than one day to complete, then spread it out evenly during the week to reduce stress and burnout. Also, sticking to your list will help you stay productive because you will know exactly what is on your list 
6. Don’t Multitask. Research shows that moving back and forth between several tasks actually wastes productivity. It takes between 5-15 minutes for your brain to readjust after switching from one task to another. You never truly focus completely on one particular task which can seriously affect productivity.
7. Eat nutrient dense foods. How do you expect to stay productive if you don’t feed your body the right foods? Your body thrives on vitamins and nutrients, not processed foods and supplements. Eating too much carbs can increase insulin which can release serotonin which is responsible for the itis. Oh the flip side, low blood sugar can lead to lower will power and self control which can lead to a lowered ability to stay on task and get work done. Its ideal to make sure that you eat balanced meals that consists of fiber, fresh veggies, protein and healthy fats to ward off hunger. 

I hope this helps. Have any more suggestions? Liking the content? Leave a comment below!

In Good Health, 

​Amber