Live Coverage of Covid-19’s Impact in the U.S.

1. If you’re working from home, start your work day normally. Wake up at the same time, shower if that’s part of your routine. Comb your hair, brush your teeth, eat your normal breakfast.

2. Get dressed. Put on real clothes, ideally something with a button or zipper. If you can’t wear sweatpants to work, wearing them at home won’t help motivate you. It’s also easier to gain weight if your pants can stretch with you. Bonus: If you wear sweatpants after work, set that sweatpants alarm — it will give you something to look forward to!

3. If you’re working from home, actually work. If you don’t have a TV on at work, or at school, don’t have one on at home. Sit at a table or desk, not on your couch.

4. If you’re using Zoom, Skype or any other platform for virtual meetings, put on your webcam. We’re not used to meeting with black squares; we’re used to meeting with humans. If no one else has theirs on, be a trendsetter.

5. Lights on all day! Most of us don’t work in the dark, so have your overhead lights on.

6. Take breaks. If you regularly take 30 minutes for lunch, take 30 for lunch. I encourage stretching, a quick walk (socially-distanced). Also, stay hydrated.

7. Keep a normal-ish schedule. If you’re typically done at 5, be done at 5. Just because you’re working from home, doesn’t mean you have to work 24/7.

8. Schedule everything, even the nonwork tasks. Include TV time, online shopping, social media, laundry, etc. Do this every morning — it’ll help avoid “what do I do next?”

9. Don’t get in your comfy spot (e.g. couch, bed, etc.) until the sun goes down. Follow this rule.

10. Eat what you would normally eat on a work day. Save the fun food for the weekend.

11. Speaking of fun food, if you’re like me, you have more food than you’re used to having. I also bought a lot of carbs and processed food I don’t typically eat. I recommend putting all the “nonessential” food in a container in another room. If you eat healthy, keep eating your normal fruits, veggies and meats.

12. Try to get exercise. Pretty much every online workout program is offering free trials right now — take advantage. This helps pass the time, as well as keep your mind and body healthy.

13. Consider learning meditation or mindfulness. These times are stressful for everyone, regardless of who you are. Finding tools (apps, videos, etc.) to help cope are important for all of us.

14. If you’re newly unemployed because of the pandemic, it’s OK to lick your wounds. Once you’re ready, apply for all the help you can. Also, there could still be ways out there to make money — including child care for children of health care workers like us.

15. It’s good to stay informed by reading, watching or listening to the news, but limit it to one or two times a day, and try to avoid constantly looking things up. Otherwise, focus your energy on something else. Hang in there; this is a marathon, not a sprint.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/coronavirus-updates-news-03-23