Many people are tired of their daily commuting life and hope to find the opportunity to work at home so that they can take into account both professional and personal life. The covid-19 global pandemic makes many people experience the life of working at home for the first time. However, it is found that not all people enjoy working at home and even feel more pressure and anxiety.
According to the survey from Cigna, a U.S. health services company, working from home makes the boundaries between work itself and personal life more blurred. After the government announced that parts of companies need to work remotely, employees in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand said that they felt more anxious about their jobs. Also, American enterprise management software company Qualtrics interviewed employees in the Americas and found that 54% of respondents said that working at home raises their stress level. In fact, such anxiety will further affect people’s health and psychology. Professor Oliver Robinson of University College London pointed out that anxiety related to remote work can lead to insomnia, which will reduce working memory ability and productivity. Therefore, in such a situation, finding the balance between work and life becomes more important, and the weekend activity planning will become a practical breakthrough point.
Get Away From Screens
Nowadays, many jobs require you to spend at least eight hours a day looking at digital screens. However, starring at a computer for hours can cause eye strain, while artificial light can disrupt your sleep patterns. Therefore, try to disconnect or at least get away from the screens as much as possible during the weekends.
If it’s unrealistic to remove yourself electronically from your work on the weekends, try setting a specific time on Saturday and Sunday to check your e-mails and reply to voicemails.
Cook Something New
Cooking isn’t just another weekend chore like vacuuming the carpet or folding the laundry. It is an innate meditation if you will concentrate on the colour, smell and feel of each ingredient or the sounds while chopping vegetables or adding spices to your meals. If you wish to be more mindful, experience stress relief and improve systematic thinking and patience, you can try your hands at the art of cooking or even baking.
Prepare something with whatever ingredients you have on hand, keeping in mind the flavours and meals you like. If you want to follow a particular recipe, do so by all means, but remember to enjoy the process, not strive for perfection.
Read A Book
Reading allows your imagination to fly to unknown places and experience things that you would never have felt or have never even thought about otherwise. It also gives you a better vocabulary, makes you culturally aware and promotes a mental workout.
Whether it is a novel or fantasy, nothing will change your mood and steer your thoughts in a new and better direction and will give you as many quality conversation starters as reading.
Plan A Mini Adventure
Travelling is a great way of breathing new life into your daily routine, re-energising yourself and rediscovering the wonders of the outside world. Although with one day off and coronavirus pandemic, you probably won’t be able to enjoy the full journey, you still can get out of town (or at least your home) and go on a mini-vacation! It can bring you all the experiences of new sights and activities while staying close to home.
You can plan a road trip or bike ride, go for a picnic close to a body of water or geocaching, take a walk in nature or simply try sleeping out in your garden. Hiking is also perfect for spending time with family and friends. By exploring new places, reconnecting with nature and staying together with your closed ones, you can take a break from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life, relieve the stress and open your mind to new thoughts and fresh ideas.
Take A Long Soak In A Bathtub
Due to the busy week, most people usually don’t have time for a long bath. If you are one of these types of people, this is just what you need to unwind on the weekends. A long soak in a bathtub, especially a warm one, can enhance blood circulation, flush toxins from the body, improve bowel movement and relieve sore muscles.
What’s more, taking a warm bath is not only relaxing but also promotes sleep. You can even add essential oils, light some candles and add a CBD bath bomb to make your experience extra relaxing. A bath bomb infused with CBD oil allows this active compound to penetrate the open pores of your skin and provide a whole-body effect. This can help to reduce any aches and pain, alleviate stress and anxiety, induce sleep and even improve skin condition. However, make sure to choose the best CBD oil products from reliable brands to ensure you get a positive experience from CBD use.
Find That Creative Bone In Your Body
By taking inspiration from the Internet, you will definitely find an activity that you like, and also improve the state of your physical and mental health, even if you think that you don’t have a creative side.
Consider keeping a journal to release tension and stress, explore your emotions and keep your thoughts organised. In case you already keep a journal or a diary, you can try using mixed media and upgrading your pages with drawing and painting materials. As an alternative, you can fill in an adult colouring book, try your hand at calligraphy, learn a new musical instrument, knit, crochet or even change the look of your living room or bedroom.