The Covid-19 pandemic has altered both our personal and work life as we know it. If you’re currently employed or are on the lookout for a new job in the near future, it can be difficult to focus your mind on the tasks in hand if you’re extremely worried about the Coronavirus pandemic. Whether you’re working from the comfort of your own home or in the office, it can be challenging to switch off from the unnerving situation when you’re bombarded by the subject. In this blog, we’re going to look at some of the ways you can combat Coronavirus anxiety to enable you to concentrate on your job every day. 1. Limit your news consumption
While you may feel obliged to constantly watch the news for updates on the pandemic, this can actually become extremely damaging to your mental health. Hyper-focusing on what you can’t control will only accelerate your stress levels and turn your attention away from your tasks. This doesn’t mean you can’t stay updated at all, but simply limit what you read and watch about the topic a couple of times per day, so you don’t become overwhelmed. Ideally, you should try and keep yourself calm before bed, as you will likely have disturbed sleep and may make it more difficult for you to focus on work the following day. 2. Practice deep breathing If you’re feeling slightly anxious and are unable to concentrate on the tasks in hand, it would be recommended to practice deep breathing. You could try the art of mindfulness before starting work, and at the end of the day to allow the mind to concentrate on the present moment and surroundings, rather than worrying about the past or future. 3. Establish a routine Although the peak of the pandemic has passed, many companies are still requiring their employees to work from home for health and safety reasons. With this in mind, many are finding it a challenge to stay motivated due to working in unusual surroundings or having to adapt to a new schedule that they’re not used to.
It would be advised to wake up at the same time each morning and create a routine that you’re comfortable with to help you get into work mode. Do remember that you’re only human and it will take time to adjust to such unusual circumstances – so remember to take your time and don’t be too hard on yourself. There are many ways you can help maintain a routine, including:
· Keeping a regular sleep pattern
· Taking breaks from work – whether it be for exercise, seeing friends or spending time in the outdoors.
· Making time for hobbies outside of working hours.
Whether you’re currently in employment or are looking to get back into work after being made redundant from your previous job, it’s important to keep in mind that things will be different to what you may be used to. You may also feel anxious about the ever-developing coronavirus pandemic and are finding it difficult to concentrate on work. In this case, it would be advised to speak to your employer to see if strategies could be put in place to make the situation easier.
