Virtually Connected
Now, with offices shuttered and borders closed, virtual sessions are essential to the daily lives of millions of people. Most people aren’t used to feeling the practical effects of so much physical distance in their lives or walking down the street for your favorite—anything— is unaccessible. But adapting to remote work and embracing the role of virtual connection, is still a challenging new reality. There’s a big difference between planning the occasional video or telephone call, and reorienting our entire lives around virtual connections.
We’re in a new normal, and we might not get back to business-as-usual anytime soon. But this disruption to our routine doesn’t mean we can’t connect effectively and care for ourselves as we settle into this virtual reality. This will take time, and the transition doesn’t have to be rough. Here are a few tips to help connect virtually and care for yourselves simultaneously:
Let’s think of virtual meetings as virtual— not as in-person gathering that external events have disrupted. We are all aware that things are different. And while technology has been able to cross physical and temporal gaps, virtual connections are by no means a replacement for face-to-face connection. The level of energy felt from live interaction is palpably lower and different. It may be a good, gentle reminder to allow yourself to connect virtually, (some connection is better than none) and to accept the grief associated with social distancing.
Don’t be hard on yourself for any issues gone array during the virtual meeting. If the sound is off, or the inevitable glitch has cut you off mid sentence, breathe and reboot yourself first, then your computer.
Be ready for virtual meetings to possibly take longer than in-person meeting. Set up enough time before and after so that you do not feel rushed, overwhelmed and anxious about making it on time. If possible, spend 15 minutes before and after your virtual chat, to breathe, walk, stretch, journal, drink some water and attend to your basic needs. This can be an excellent time to increase your meditation practice or to start one.
Use mindfulness (a raw presence with what is) when you can. Tune into your five senses to find the present moment. What do you see, smell, touch, feel, hear, and taste? Then come back to the task at hand.
Check in with yourself to ask yourself how you are feeling or what you might need at this time. This self-talk opens an inner dialogue that can have profound positive effects on your emotional and physical wellbeing.
Take the time to disconnect and recharge. Set boundaries. It is not selfish to say, “no” to something that feels draining. And, you do not have to accept every virtual invitation that comes your way.
Develop a space in your house that is only for work, treat it like a work day, get dressed for work, and when work is over, put work stuff out of sight.
Make the room you're working in pleasant! Light a candle each time, open all of the windows, even if it’s raining sometimes, have some tea or juice or coffee and a heated blanket wrapped around your feet. Also some very quiet soft music in the background if possible.
Rest. Asthenopia, more commonly known as screen fatigue caused by a chronic strain on the eyes, is a common condition that occurs when your eyes become tired from intense use. Staring at a computer screen for long periods or straining to see in dim light are common causes of fatigue, physical discomfort, headaches, sleep dysfunction and the list goes on. We can automatically feel like we are not doing enough or making the best of our time because we are laying around from the haunting fatigue. It does not necessarily mean you are depressed. However, if you think these sensations and feelings are lingering and you are not able to shake it off, reach out for more support.
In the long run, we might find this transition to virtual connections to be a lasting solution to the financial and environmental costs of physical travel, and look back on our embrace of technology as an important step in the right direction. But for now, remember to stay virtually connected, because your physical body and mind, like a machine, need a reboot.