Alternatively, this could have been called, how to survive as a freelancer, but that title isn’t as timely as coronavirus. A lot of what you’ll read here I’ve had to learn over the past two years while working from home. When coronavirus quarantine hit I was ready with all the tips and tricks to survive the mental torture and hopefully make it at least a little bearable.
Fine-Tune Your Budget or Develop A Budget
Whether you’ve lost your job due to coronavirus or you’re worried about the future you need to get your finances in order! This can be a hard one for people. Finances are one of those scary, if I don’t look at it, it’s not real kind of tasks, but it’s real, whether you look or not. Delaying this task won’t make it better. We’re in an unprecedented time in America and the future of the post-coronavirus world is uncertain. The best we can do is prepare and batten down the hatch. Well, the rest of America was hoarding 5,000 rolls of toilet paper, I was making sure to get my finances in order and my taxes in so that I could put that extra income into savings. I’ve written in-depth on how to develop a budget and find free money within your budget and it has never seemed more important. Try to take one day to go through your budget and clean things up. If any charges were made by mistake, make sure to call and get it corrected. Look into the new coronavirus government programs that may apply to you for help. Every little bit counts!
Find a Hobby And Treat It Like A Job
If unfortunately, you lost your job or simply can’t work at the moment find a hobby and treat it like your job. Even better find a hobby that will benefit you when back on the job hunt after coronavirus. There are a ton of courses on Coursera offered by major universities in every subject. Yale University just uploaded the most popular course they’ve ever offered in their 317-year history called, The Science of Well-Being. Classes are free and if you would like a proper certificate of completion for your resume it will cost $49. Codecademy is also a valuable website with free courses to learn how to code. I’ve noticed a ton of companies offering even more free online resources hoping to help people during this rough time. Last bit, when I say treat it like a job I mean it, commit to it as if you’re on a hard deadline. It helps give your life purpose and meaning and it will help you get out of bed.
Lemon Water
This section is really about easy ways to prioritze your health right now and this may be one of the easiest things to add to your morning routines. Lemon in your water is a delcious, natural way to add Vitamin C to your diet. It’s more important than ever to keep your immune system healthy. Golden milk, bone broth, and Ginger Spice are all great recipes to add to your diet throughout your day as well for optimum health.
Keep Active
It’s easier and more effective than ever to work out right in your living room. Daily Burn is offering 60-days free, Aaptiv is 30-days free, Peloton is a 90-day trial period so there’s no need to ruin your budget. There’s never been a better time to try out meditation while you’re at it, Deepak and Oprah are offering their 21-day meditation program for free right now or there’s Headspace or Calm. Whatever you use doesn’t matter as long as you try.
Journal
No better time than the present to write down every account of what is happening in the world right now and in your mind. You will be happy to have these events written down in your voice years from now. It also may help you to process what’s going on and check-in with yourself to see what you need.
Make Your Bed
It’s time to start treating your home like your entire world because sadly it is. I make my bed every day to help me get in the right mind-set. It’s a good way to separate the sleep world from the rest of your life. It also discourages me from getting back in bed. Now, if you’re struck with coronavirus then get back in bed and ignore everything I’ve said here besides the lemon water and nutrition bit.
Get Ready
I learned this one from my grandparents after they retired, Tan France on Queer Eye and personal experience as a freelancer. Yes, you could go days without changing your clothes or even showering but trust me this is not a good idea. Mentally it takes a toll on your life when you stop getting dressed. There’s a whole psychology behind your clothing making a difference in how you feel and act and this still applies when you’re home. As a side note, if you live with a life partner it’s also just nice to get dressed once in a while so they don’t have to look at a slob every day. Of course, they should make you feel sexy either way but it’s always nice to look nice for someone you love.
Keep Work And Life Separate
Right when B and I started reading about the insanity that was inevitably heading our way we started to prep our house. We knew that if we were to live in quarantine some things would need to be done so I got to work setting the stage. I cleaned the guest room and ordered a proper desk for B to set-up shop and “go to work” just as he does normally. This way he can go in there, shut the door and separate himself from the rest of the house, just like I can with my space. Try to keep a daily work routine to the best of your ability.
Set The Stage
Divide your house into little sections so you don’t get too bored. Make every corner feel special. The other day I finally finished a project hanging up collectible blue and white plates around my dining table and switched up my decorative pillows just so everything felt fresh. I also went around and did a deep clean. It might seem silly but this brought me a lot of joy. It just made my home feel like it was getting a new life. Try this around your home, set your guest room up with an office or spruce up your kitchen with contact paper or add new decorative pillows around. The possibilities are endless just do something to make your spirit feel better and if the weather allows open your windows to let some fresh air in.
Staycation
Create a special staycation night, cook something you normally wouldn’t, indulge in that special bottle of wine, anything you can do to find an escape from reality for the night or make a day out of it. The other night B and I made homemade fish and chips with tartar sauce then downloaded the BritBox app on Roku and watched British comedy shows while sipping on some lagers. We had a ton of fun blasting British artists while frying up some tilapia and potatoes. Of course, any Brit night wouldn’t be complete without a cuppa. If you’re looking for more inspiration for a coronavirus staycation head over here.
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