5 Tips to Help You Embrace the “Pandemic Pause”

The Covid-19 pandemic has put many aspects of life as we know it at a stand-still and required us to quickly adapt to a change in routines. Many people are finding themselves with more time on their hands, while others may continue to have a full slate of obligations to fulfill related to work and family. Perhaps you are still trying to figure out what self-care looks like for you in this “new normal”. Fortunately, there are many ways to stay connected with the 8 dimensions of well-being, even while navigating this challenging time.

Consider these 5 tips to maintain your overall wellness in the coming weeks:

• Maintain your social connections and continue networking.
  Here in 2020, we are fortunate enough to have frameworks available that support social wellness, even when we’re physically isolated. So many of the group activities people were taking part in before have moved online into video format — from team meetings, to yoga and Pilates classes, to book clubs, to professional networking events. Is there a group you’d either like to join or create? The sky’s the limit! Though it may not be exactly the same as socializing in person, the sense of connection and community still translates quite well via video chat.
• Spruce up your home office space (or create one anew!)
  Enhance your environmental wellness by establishing a designated workspace in your home. There is plenty of research (not to mention anecdotal evidence) showing that an organized work/living space can translate into having a more relaxed mental state and allow you to spend less time and energy looking for what you need. Make sure you have plenty of natural light, which can help boost both your mood and your sleep quality. Create an inspired space by choosing décor that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Add plants to improve your air quality and contribute a natural, feel-good flair.
• Learn a new skill or work on a project you’ve been meaning to tackle.
  If you find yourself with free time on your hands and you’re feeling up for it, think about skills you’ve been meaning to enhance – both professional skills like advancing your Excel knowledge or learning to code, or perhaps its more home-oriented skills like vegetable gardening or cooking that pique your interest. This kind of continuing education not only supports intellectual wellness by keeping us open and engaged, but can also play into our mental/emotional wellness as well.
• Take advantage of employer-sponsored wellness programs and classes.
  If you’re riding out the pandemic while working from home, remember that many employers offer an array of web-based wellness offerings (here’s an example from our own catalog), including yoga, Pilates, and other movement classes, meditation/mindfulness sessions, nutritional webinars, and more. See what resources might be available that you weren’t previously aware of or that may have fallen off your radar.
• Allow yourself as much downtime as you need.
  The opportunity to slow down and be less busy than usual is a gift in these times. It is perfectly fine to set aside your usual standards of productivity. This is a great time to learn how to be in your own company and explore quieter, simpler ways of being. Perhaps the most important piece of wellness advice we can offer is to pay attention to internal guidance first. Ask yourself, “what do my body, mind, and heart need today?”

Urban Balance is the premiere provider of comprehensive on-site corporate wellness services in Portland, Oregon. We deliver yoga, Pilates, meditation, massage, nutrition and learning opportunities to the office environment for happier employees and a healthier bottom line.

We are pleased to announce that as of March 2020, we have begun delivering many of these services virtually. View our Virtual Wellness Services catalog here.

If your Portland, Oregon area company is ready to step up its corporate wellness programming, contact us today to learn how Urban Balance can support your team and wellness goals!