Why Working From Home Doesn’t Mean You Should Embrace Bad Habits
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced so many employees from office cubicles into home offices — and at first, it was ah-mazing.
But over time, reality has set in. And for many of us, so have bad habits.
When you work from home, you’re responsible for motivating yourself in so many previously automatic ways. But working from home doesn’t mean you should embrace bad habits.
In this post, we’re going to explore why it’s dangerous to fall into negative patterns while you’re working from home.
This may not be temporary
When we got the orders to work from home, it felt like a nice vacation for so many of us. So we saddled up to the home bar and poured an extra-dry martini (read: straight vodka) into our morning coffee mugs. After all, your colleagues on Zoom will be none the wiser.
But after 6+ months with very little change, we must accept that this may become a new way of life. And over six months to a year, the things that initially felt like celebrations may now feel like a weight around your ankle. The longer you keep up with bad habits, the harder it’ll be to stop them.
Bad habits become addictions
There are some bad habits that are more than just a bit difficult to shake. Some can feel impossible. And with the spike in liquor sales at the start of COVID-19, we might be headed towards an avalanche of alcohol abuse recovery cases in 2021 and beyond.
Day drinking on day one may have been a good time, but if you’re still doing it, it may be time for an intervention. Also, beware of binge drinking at any time of day. Binge drinkers are more likely to suffer from alcoholism.
Know that we will all get through this, and think about what you want your life to look like on the other side.
Bad habits can worsen depression
Many people are suffering from depression as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. And if you think you’re at risk, take a good hard look at your habits.
Healthy habits include showering daily, getting dressed for the day, eating right and exercising. If you aren’t doing these things, you could be worsening your symptoms of depression and/or hopelessness.
If the pandemic is getting to you, try going for a walk every day to help clear your mind and connect with nature. It does feel like everything has changed, but there are some things that are the same. The feeling of the wind on your face and the dirt at your feet are the same today as they were when we ushered in the new year. Take advantage of that to begin feeling some sense of normalcy in your life again.
Working from home can get boring and mundane, but if you’re looking to spice things up with bad habits, you’re going to end up with regrets. This too shall pass, and when it does, let’s leave all the negativity in 2020.
