Whatever your new normal has become, one thing is certain: It’s bound to change as fall approaches.
Working parents will juggle a host of different challenges at home as students return to the classroom (virtually or in-person). As the weather changes, so will outdoor workout routines or time with your furry friends. And with the presidential election nearing, newsroom demands are sure to ramp up.
Humans are creatures of habit, which is why establishing routines is essential to self-care. Consistently evaluating your routines — and communicating when they need to change — is an important way to manage stress and anxiety during uncertain times.
If you anticipate your at-home routines will change come fall, now is a good time to:
- Articulate your changed availability or ability to take on additional tasks to both your supervisor and your teammates.
- Define, with your supervisor, what makes up an emergency outside of normal work hours — and communicate your “hard-nos.”
- During the work day, set apart time to focus on your essential work, and protect that time to avoid bringing work home. Create a digital “do not disturb” sign and use it during the work day. Turn off notifications when you need to focus.
Understand that change is inevitable — be patient with yourself, your family and your employer as you experiment with what works best for you and yours.
Tags: Self-care