Beyond #WFH is our initiative to spread positivity and inspire our readers by inviting leaders and friends to share what they do to unwind and relax after they finish their work-from-home and work-for-home responsibilities during the lockdown.
While Covid-19 has had multiple impacts on business and Beyond #WFH is not about business, it’s about self-discovery, things that will give us the strength to get through the lockdown and more importantly for those ‘moments’ that will stay with us for long and beyond this pandemic. PS: We are not talking business!
In this story of Beyond #WFH we bring to you, Mitchelle Rozario Jansen, Regional Head – Operations (West), WATConsult
Beyond Work from home, how I have been taking care of my mental & physical wellbeing
The lockdown has pushed us all into a new reality. We are suddenly isolated from each other but have never felt this sense of strong unity before, unity beyond geographical or any other boundaries. While it has been tough moving away from the routine & the mundane, this new reality has allowed us to adapt, grow and evolve as well.
To keep me going amidst all this new chaos, I have purposefully tried to manage both my physical as well as mental health.
Here’s a glimpse into some of things I have been exploring frequently during this quarantine.
Mental Wellbeing
Yoga & Meditation: I have always found meditation to be relaxing. Given that WFH has clearly merged the boundaries between work & play, I have found yoga & meditation to be my stress relief in times of crisis management.
Reading: I am a bibliophile. The piles of books that have been catching dust are now being put to good use.
Painting / Sketching: I have always found art soothing, and while earlier it was a weekend hobby, I now find myself drawn to it on a regular basis. I even found a new kind of art to try out: Cubism. This has proven to be a good time to start learning something new.
Learning: Personal & Professional Growth have always been of great importance to me. I completed a Facebook Blueprint certification in media planning to hone my on the job skills. For my personal growth I chose to do a certified course in Modern Arts & Ideas from MoMA through Coursera. I got to learn about 70+ artists, it was fulfilling & inspiring to say the least.
While these have helped my mental wellbeing, I’ve always ensured to take good care of my physical health. In times like these that is quite imperative.
Physical Health:
Exercise: Before the lockdown was announced I invested in some weights for the house. I have tried to keep a 3 day per week schedule for my workouts. Some days have been hardcore, but then there are days I don’t really feel too up to it, so a quick free-flow yoga session is what I usually resort to. It’s important that we listen to our bodies and not push more than we can handle. It’s totally okay to work out 3 days a week or none at all. We must give our bodies what it demands from us, even if that is sleep.
Cooking: With Online orders shutting off, it forced me to start cooking at home. I made Rice & Dal for the first time in years. I learnt to cook different kinds of vegetables & dishes, with the internet and WhatsApp recipes from family being a rich source of scrumptious meals. Cooking at home has made me understand the importance of what we put into our bodies. It has made me realize there is nothing healthier than a meal prepared with your own hands, with love & care.
Being shut off from the world, has opened up a whole new one for me. I have found myself, and I have renewed myself through this journey. Having said that, I do believe each of us have our own journeys to make. It is okay to want to try different things, and it is also okay to want to do nothing. It is important that we listen to what our minds and bodies need and to give them just that. We are not just living at home; we are trying to live at home during a global pandemic. So, it is okay to just be.
