- Feel like this room is really dark and I don't know why,
and these lights are flickering and I don't know why.
I'm making a quiet video today because Aviva is working
in the other room and I don't want to disturb her.
But hello, I hope you're doing well,
and I hope you're feeling safe, and okay in general.
So I wanted to make some content on this channel,
obviously while we're all in like, social distancing mode.
But I obviously don't want
to be insensitive and just jump straight in.
So I thought I'd start with like a little video.
Something that is about social distancing,
but also is helpful and informative and doesn't stress you
out any more than you probably already are.
I don't know about where you are, but in the U.K.
our government not doing all that much
and it's really stressing people out.
So I thought this might help as well
as all the media always saying is currently influxes
of stress and fear.
So hope this helps.
So I am actually an expert in working from home,
I've worked from home for three years now,
and before that I did a three-year degree.
I feel like I've done all of the working from home.
But, I'm not actually very good at motivating myself
when I'm not at my peak mental state,
so I thought this might help a little bit.
And I can give you some of my best tips for working
from home, or being at home a lot,
from a self-isolation, accidental queen.
Yeah, maybe it'll help someone, I hope it does.
There's a lot of advice about working
from home right now that's going around the internet.
And some of it's a little bit judge-y
and a little bit weird,
so I thought let's create a non-judgemental space
for some of this advice.
So a lot of the advice going
around right now is saying create routine,
and suggesting you do quite a lot
of things to create that routine.
I would argue start small.
So, for me personally,
I think the sleep routine is like the best thing I've done
for keeping routine in my life.
I go to bed at a certain time,
and I wake up at a certain time.
I make the most of working from home,
I sleep in a bit later than most people, but,
I still wake up at a certain time every day.
I wake up at 8, 8:30, and that really helps.
In terms of timing and routine,
I'd also really recommend taking a lunch break.
I think of it as, as important as having a commute,
just to break up the day in manageable chunks.
Dedicate a space for working in.
I use my kitchen table, my housemate Aviva, uses her desk.
Just have a space that you're working in, preferably not
in your bedroom, but obviously
that can't be helped sometimes.
If you're in your bedroom, use a desk.
If you're workday is usually made up of single long tasks,
for example writing or editing,
I'd really recommend using the Pomodoro timer method.
It's so good, you can download a free app for your phone.
And basically it divides your work time into 25 minutes
of focus, five minutes of like, relax.
25 minutes of focus, five minutes of relax.
And then every two hours,
you can take a 15 minute break to relax.
I find it really helpful for when I've got those days
of just long chunks of doing things
that you need to be fully absorbed in.
It's like really helpful for focus.
Try to move around at least once a day.
I am not the best at this,
but my mental health improves so much
when I actually leave my house, which isn't always possible,
in this climate, but also like going and moving my body.
So I'm planning to go for lots of walks
in the park near my house,
and I'm also planning on doing a little bit
of like bedroom yoga, I think both
of those'll be really good for my brain.
So speaking of the mental side of things, I find
that's the first thing to go when I'm in my house a lot.
Managing your mental health when you're seeing people less,
and going outside less is quite challenging,
but I have ways of doing it.
I personally find that when I have periods
of not seeing people, I lose a bit of
that optimism and hope.
And to counteract that, I try and create little things
to look forward to at the end of each day.
So for example,
you're cooking a nice meal you've been looking forward to,
or you're face-timing your mum,
or playing board games with your house mate.
Like there's something fun that you have planned that isn't
as big as, you know going out for a drink or a curry,
but it's still nice and something to look forward to.
I think of these as like mini-plans,
like you probably aren't gonna put it in your calendar,
but it still is giving you like the good, the good vibes
and the optimism, and the thing to look forward to.
Another thing that's really good is you can make the most
of the positive bits of working from home.
'Cause there are lots of positives.
That's why people want to work from home.
So for example, I get to get
up an hour later than I probably would if I was commuting,
which is so good.
I can listen to music on speakers when I'm working,
and I can burn a candle while I work.
Like, just nice little things that are like treats.
You can do them at home.
This one's a little bit more challenging,
but I would really, really recommend keeping your space
as tidy as possible.
So, I'm the messiest person, I'm clean,
but messy, I would say.
But my mood drops so significantly
when my room, or my space is untidy.
So I tend to dedicate around ten minutes a day
to just clearing things up.
Only ten minutes, that's all you really need.
But I always try and keep my kitchen
as clean as possible, and my bedroom as clean as possible.
And I always make my bed in the morning,
I find that having that clear big space in the middle
of your room, really, really helps your brain.
Oh my God, I think Boris Johnson's
announced we're actually properly self-isolating now.
(sighs) Fuckin' finally.
I try to log out of work, or studying
at the same-ish time every day.
I have an hour window, from six til seven,
and within that window, oh, there's something floating,
within that window I will log off and stop work.
So obviously sometimes it can't be helped, but generally,
I really try and stick between six
and seven p.m. as my off time.
In particular I really like to cook after six or seven p.m.,
just so that I have that physical break between my work
and then my play time.
And I'm doing something nice and relaxing,
but also not on screens, in that time.
Speaking of fun and games, and things to look forward to,
let me tell you what I'm planning on doing
that's gonna be fun, and good while we are all at home.
The first thing is I've ordered a PlayStation,
and I'm going to play Spyro.
I used to love Spyro.
We never had a games console in my house,
but one of my friends had a games console
and we played Spyro all the time, and it's so much fun.
So when they released the Reignited Trilogy, I was like,
yes, in basket now, but, I also didn't have a games console,
so, a games console's arriving tomorrow.
On the technological front, I've got a Kindle,
so I have started reading "Such a Fun Age",
which is a book I wanted to read for quite a while,
I'm so glad it's out now.
So that's something nice I can do that involves screen time,
but not as intense work screen time as I normally take.
I'm gonna make the most of cooking, I love cooking,
but you know, sometimes you go out for meals with friends,
so you don't get to do it as often as you'd like.
I'm a real fan of that,
I'm actually probably gonna make a "Why Eat"
in a week because I'll be cooking so much.
And I know people are gonna be like, oh my God,
but you're going out to the shops.
I'm trying to do a weekly shop so that I'm in public spaces,
in close proximity to people as little as possible.
Also weekly shops are fun, you can plan
what you're gonna eat.
I've got fajitas for this week, I've got stir fry.
When it comes to being social, face-time dates.
I'm gonna be face-time dating my friends.
I think I'm also meeting a friend in a park one day.
The park by both of our houses.
So we can just like wander around, and walk, and chat,
which is so weird, and like, weird,
but it'll be really nice.
However other friends that live further away,
I'm gonna face-time them, and I'm really excited for that.
I have accepted finally that I'm an extrovert.
And while it's lovely that Aviva will be home so,
it'll be good to speak to her, and I'll walk to Jack's,
there'll still be like a void that needs filling.
So I'm hoping face-time will do that for me.
I'm also gonna get Disney+ as soon as it's available
in the U.K., I think it's seven days from
when I'm recording this video.
But, for me personally when I'm anxious,
which I have been the past couple of days.
It makes me want to actively avoid any kind of stressful TV.
So the idea that there will be a whole host
of Disney movies available to me is so exciting.
I'm always craving stuff that's like good quality,
but also not incredibly stressful scary.
And I think I'm probably gonna find that on Disney+.
I'm a sensitive sausage,
so I just need some less stressful viewing
for when I'm anxious.
I'm also really excited to make the most of time
with hanging out with my house mate.
Aviva and I have gone and bought some board games,
again we got Spyro, we got a PlayStation,
we're just gonna try and makes plans
in the evening and have some fun.
Something I've done in the past that I really,
really recommend is teaching yourself a new skill.
If you're kind of in that weird place where work is not
that busy, but you want to be productive,
and your craving productivity.
I remember one time when work was just chill for me,
and not much was going on, and I wasn't making much money,
I taught myself how to use Photoshop,
and built my skillset out.
Which I just so grateful for now.
I use Photoshop every week at least.
It really helped with my expansion of my skills,
but also my mental health.
'Cause I was doing something that was good for me,
and pushing my brain.
There's loads of resources online if you want
to teach yourself stuff, I know of one good Skillshare,
don't worry this isn't spot for Skillshare,
please sponsor me.
Also is this not like the best
of opportunity to binge watch?
Like start a new series, start a new book,
there is so much good stuff on Netflix right now.
I'm gonna recommend you a couple of things
if you haven't already tried them.
I really love "Church",
it was such a good documentary series.
I'm also half-way through "The Pharmacist",
which I'm really enjoying, that's a little more stressful,
and a bit about opioid addiction, so, like,
if you find that stressful, then maybe don't do that one.
But it's really enjoyable.
I'm half-way through "Ugly Delicious",
which is a show I love, it's all about food,
and David Chang, who is a restaurant owner and chef.
I think "Miss Americana" has quickly become one
of my favorite documentaries.
And if you're looking for slightly reassuring content
about viruses, and stuff, would really,
really recommend the Netflix Explained episode called,
"The Next Pandemic", or "The New Pandemic" maybe.
I found it really informative and helpful in learning
about what's actually going on.
Books wise, what have I picked up recently?
In terms of books, after I finish "Such a Fun Age",
I plan to move on to "Girl, Woman, Other",
which I've just been sent in paperback.
Mad excited to read that, so yeah,
these are all my thoughts, and my tips.
I hope you're okay.
So I hope this video helps someone
at least entertain themselves while we're all
in social distancing phase.
I'm not going to chat loads
about why we should be social distancing,
but I will leave some articles down there,
in case you would like to learn any more
about why it's really important.
But yeah, I hope you're doing okay,
and your not stressing too much.
It's quite an anxiety inducing time for all of us.
Yeah, so, I'm thinking of you, I hope you're doing okay.
I'm such an anxiety magnet when it comes to crazy,
unknown situations, or new situations.
So I hope this channel can provide a little bit of like,
chill, in amongst the chaos that is COVID-19.
So yes, please do your best in keeping others safe,
and stay positive.
I love you lots, I will see you in my next video.