OUTSIDE THE BOX
Four Tips for When When Your Home Office Becomes Quarantine Central
by Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig
NOTE: This article appears in the March 2022 print edition of Information Today with the title "When Your Home Office Becomes Quarantine Central."
Since March 2020, I’ve done my due diligence to ensure I didn’t become infected with COVID-19. As a member of the “underlying conditions club,” I wore the proper masks—plus a face shield when on airplanes and in overly crowded places. I made sure I got my flu shots early for the past 2 years. When the vaccines were developed, I signed up as soon as I could and received all three doses of Pfizer, as recommended. As restrictions eased, I traveled to see new grandbabies and celebrate family milestones. And this past fall, I ended up taking 10 flights within 7 weeks to and from Oakland, California, where I live, to Phoenix, Philadelphia, Denver, and Portland, Oregon, for business, for pleasure, and to mourn.
Over the holidays, I slowed it down some and drove to Phoenix, all the while continuing to wear masks (even when not required), keeping a safe distance from those I didn’t know, and only participating in small family gatherings. I returned home during the last week of 2021 and went to two doctor appointments and two grocery stores. Then, while others celebrated the new year, I started to experience what I thought was a head cold. It was not.
The omi got me, y’all! And if you’re wondering, it was after returning to Oakland. I share all of this to echo the warnings surrounding the initial virus and its most recent quick-moving variant. Additionally, I hope my tale will provide some support for the home-based business owners—like me—who are impacted in unique ways that those who work outside the home are not.
BE REALISTIC
Many are lucky enough to be asymptomatic, but there are more people who experience mild to severe symptoms and find themselves turning their workspace into a temporary clinic. The first thing I did was realize that a few days of rest may do a body (and mind) good. Powering through when you don’t feel your best can make your immune system weaken further, causing more days away from working than anticipated. This is true whether you have COVID or any other illness.
One great use of downtime is to look around at your current office setup and see if there are ways to improve it. Ideas from The Verge and 10to8 (see the sidebar) offer great tips for creating a workspace that is comfortable for you and that stimulates mental flow, thereby allowing for more productivity when you’ve recovered.
EAT WELL AND EXERCISE
When you’re under the weather, a lack of energy and appetite may make eating well and exercising seem impossible. However, feeding both your body and mind is key to getting better. When you have a cold, mild to moderate physical activity is often fine and may even open nasal passages, as well as temporarily relieve nasal congestion, reports the Mayo Clinic—but only if your symptoms occur above the neck. Incorporating breathing exercises and/or simple meditation does wonders, as does tai chi with its series of slow, focused movements. Just don’t overdo it.
When it comes to making sure you’re getting enough nutrients, the old favorites—soups, broths, hot water with lemon and/or honey, and bland foods—still do the trick. I used the opportunity to eat a little oatmeal or a salad in the mornings, which piqued my interest in eating healthier post-COVID.
TIDY UP
The traditional spring-cleaning chores can often be laborious and time-consuming. While sick, I found that I was able to sit and do minor and no-fun tasks such as dusting, decluttering, and organizing small areas at a time, allowing me to sanitize as I moved around and not get tired out. Check out tips from The Simply Organized Home and Real Simple (see the sidebar) to inspire you.
RELAX!
With testing positive for COVID comes the 5-to-10-day quarantine period. Even if you have a different illness, you’ll require a few days for your body to recover. The need to get back to work may be more critical for home business owners than those who work elsewhere. Spending time worrying about not getting work done can only cause more fatigue and stress, so finding ways to ease the boredom is a must.
TV bingeing, reading, and online shopping may help, but something that relaxes the mind and spirit will do wonders for your transition back to the grind. I recommend an adult coloring or language app (see the sidebar for two lists of options). Both are easy enough to continue once your quarantine is complete and are sure to ignite your creativity and maybe provide a skill that can help you both personally and professionally in the future.
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MICHELLE FITZHUGH-CRAIG is an award-winning journalist who is the owner of MFC3 Media (