How to stay focused when working from home

With new ways of working, we need to get a little creative when finding ways to stay focused and gain mental clarity during our day. So, where do we start?

Work out at home

There are a number of resources online where you can stream fitness videos from home. Do a quick search and before you know it, you could be working on your abs with the help of personal trainers or seeing how to use household items for strength training. Some of the clips may be brief but they can be done in the home to stay active, at any time. The best part – lots of them are free!

If your normal workday included a coffee break or walking around the block, use this time to do an at-home workout. It's a great way to get your sweat on and you don't even have to change out of the activewear that you might have taken to wearing at your home office.

Working out at home could even become a little more fun than a gym or a park. You can work out like no one's watching and crank up the volume on whatever music you want – ABBA, Faith No More or Selena Gomez, all bets are off! Be mindful of your form. Each time try to add a little more energy into your workout; an extra star jump, a heavier can of soup to use as a weight for your bicep curls or just five seconds longer in a plank.

Reading or writing

With the extra hours we have at home, now might be the time to tackle the complete works of Shakespeare or John Grisham's latest collection. While accessing physical copies of books might be a little tricky with libraries and book shops largely being closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, you can explore online providers like Kindle, Amazon or iTunes.

Many libraries around Australia also have online catalogues where you can access digital versions of books, newspapers, and magazines. They offer these to anyone with a membership – so check your local council's website to see if you can join your nearest library online. You could also hit up your local, online bookstore to see if you can purchase books for delivery. It's a great way to keep supporting small businesses during this difficult time.

Then there is writing. It's been said that everyone has a story to tell, and maybe now is the time to share it with the world. Have you ever had an idea squirreled away that you have always wished you'd find time to follow through with? Maybe something you saw in the paper years ago, which made you think, 'huh, there's something in that'. What about digging around in your parents' or grandparents' history? Now could be a great time to write your family memoirs, a kids' book, a personal blog, or the next big best-seller!

Everyone has lived through something extraordinary, so why not capture it and then share it with the rest of the family?

Podcasts

Do you miss the hum of the office, the buzz of the shop? The conversations that pop up throughout the usual workday? It might be time to settle into a podcast routine, and there is a topic out there for everyone: True Crime, Comedy, News, Politics along with Health and Fitness. It's a constant stream of chat, laughter or intrigue. Depending on what you're feeling, you're very likely to find something to listen that energises you, or who knows, maybe you'll start your own.

Online classes, tours or concerts

There are a ton of virtual classes that you can access for free. All you need is a strong internet connection and to carve out some time in your day.

• Skillshare is an online learning platform, providing a variety of classes from lifestyle, art, cooking, photo/film, business, and more. Explore these popular classes filled with fun to help you feel inspired in the comfort of your home.
• At Udemy you can study any topic, any time. It has the world's largest selection of courses with over 100 000 to choose from and new additions published every month. Perhaps it's time to start that side hustle you've always dreamed about?
• Duolingo is the world's most popular way to learn a language. It's 100% free, fun and based on scientific learning practices that have revolutionised the way people learn languages. Muy bien!
• So, you think you can dance? If you love to Latin dance, Go Dance offers dancers online classes where instructors will take you through the process of learning to Salsa and Bachata dance, the culture and footwork that inspires thousands of dancers worldwide!
• Museums are offering online tours, some of which are listed in this Guardian article. While it wouldn't be your average night in, it would be one you remember!
• Check to see if any of your favourite musicians are doing anything on Instagram live, like Keith Urban performing and his number one fan, Nicole Kidman dancing along!
• Speaking of dancing, there is always the adage of ‘dance like no one is watching'. You can do this at any time, with any music and with anyone!

Jig-saw puzzles

This is one for the whole family, the competitive roommates, or the partners who want to work on something together. Instead of using your kitchen table as a work and school desk, pack everything away at the end of the week and have a crack at 1,500 piece jig-saw puzzle. Working together and keeping our minds distracted is probably what we all need right now.

If you're up for a challenge, why not try a jig-saw puzzle consisting of entirely clear, see-through pieces. This brain-challenging activity is available from Etsy seller LittleFlowerPotShop. This is sure to keep you entertained for a while!

Connection

Finally, and most importantly, schedule breaks and pick up the phone to loved ones. Chat with friends via different social media channels like Zoom or Houseparty. We might be apart for the time being but it's the time we need to come together more than ever. Look out for those who are anxious or overwhelmed and let's try to be kind.