• To help overcome uncertainty, normality and routine that mirrors the office life’s daily patterns and practices can be helpful. If you are working remotely, we encourage you to create a structured, dedicated work environment and build in self-care as well as daily benchmarks of achievement.
• Structure and routine may be helpful for people with mental health vulnerabilities, especially during times of uncertainty. Encourage each other to maintain a regular routine with the work hours that are usually worked, including keeping up with morning rituals. Dressing in regular work attire and taking regular breaks, including lunch time, may also be helpful.
• Research highlights the benefits of exercise to improving mental, physical and cognitive health. Scheduling some physical activity into your day will benefit your work from home experience.
• Encourage each other to be mindful about working too little or too much. Resisting the temptations of household chores, binge news watching or entertainment as well as the urge to work late into the night can be helpful.
• Promote easy access to one another. Share your cell phone numbers with one another, transfer your work phone to your cell and keep the status bar of your availability updated.
• Research tells us that 7% of communication is accomplished through our words, including email. 38% is voice and a staggering 55% is body language and visual cu. For people with mental health vulnerabilities, and even for those with extroverted personalities, the lack of face time can be challenging. Using technology to simulate this can offer a solution to bridging this gap. The NAMI Washington Alliance has access to the ZOOM Video Conferencing Platform, and may hold meetings, classes, support groups, and other events via this platform.
• Taking steps to mitigate the potentially negative impacts of social isolation can be a proactive approach to promoting self-care. This may be especially important for those who live alone. Encourage people to schedule short “water cooler” video calls with their friends, family and colleagues, including checking in on one another as they would in the office. Use technology for informal texting when appropriate as an additional strategy. If you are a manager, keep, or if you don’t have, set, regular check-in times with your team, collectively, to reinforce the benefits of team, in this case the new virtual team.
• Take Care of Yourself. Many people with mental health conditions, and other health conditions, rely on medications as a key component to treatment and health management. Concerns about adequate supply or ability to obtain refills can be addressed. Check with your insurance carrier about the possibility of getting a one-time extra prescription refill to have on hand just in case this vital supply chain is interrupted.  

• Things are chaotic in communities right now, and flow and typical schedules are disrupted. Consider sending your team something fun, like slime, as a stress reliever and something fun to set a positive tone.
• While everyone is working remotely, think about doing a “best home office” photo contest, or favorite home office pet content. Do a prize like a weighted blanket, or a gift card.
• Consider sending a box to team leads who are going above and beyond during the time of flux and disruption.