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CREATIVITY Balancing Work and Family During THROUGH CRISIS: COVID-19

By Amber Collins, AAA Director of Marketing and Communications

To fight the spread of Coronavirus (COVID -19), governmental officials have asked that Americans take a hard pill to swallow: Stay away from each other. Whether you are teleworking or an essential worker providing invaluable support to the rental housing industry, “social distancing” continues to be the new norm. Humans are social beings, so this is undoubtedly an incredibly complex and stressful time for all of us, and your welfare is the Austin Apartment Association’s top priority as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic as a community. As we are discovering a new way of living and working together “apart”, here are some creative ideas – to use yourself or pass along to your apartment residents, clients, associates, etc.– for staying productive, entertained, connected and supported during this time of uncertainty.

STRUCTURE YOUR DAY Instead of having a vague plan, create and stick to a daily schedule for work/life balance. Generate a detailed to-do list for the entire family and put it in a visible place. This will also help in creating boundaries for everyone. Keep bedtime and morning wake up times the same as a regular school/work day. Use kids’ nap/quiet times efficiently, and try to schedule work that requires intense focus or conference calls during these times. You may need to work in the early morning or late evenings while your children are sleeping. Make it work for you. Routine is your rock, particularly when everything else is fluctuating around you.

GET READY EVERYDAY Take the time to go about your normal morning routine, wake your family up at the same time you normally would, make sure everyone gets dressed for the day, and have breakfast as usual. If you normally go to the gym, supplement your routine with home exercises. Designate some work clothes, even if they’re more comfortable than your typical professional attire. If you prefer to do your hair and makeup, then go for it, even if it’s only for you. Or allow your skin to breathe and use this time to improve its health by applying serums, toners, or masks while you work.

DESIGNATE A WORKSPACE Set up designated areas of your house to use as an “office” or “classroom” for you, your spouse and your kids. Sitting down in this space sends a clear signal to your brain that it’s time to focus. If you have limited space, something as simple as setting up at the dining room table, using a folding table and chairs, or making a standing desk at the kitchen counter can make a world of difference in avoiding the lure of working in bed or camping on the couch.

COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR PARTNER If you suddenly find yourself working next to your partner all day, it’s important to discuss your work plans in advance - from having to work on a big project and needing to be undisturbed, to deciding if you want to have designated hangout times or prefer to do your own thing. Use headphones to minimize sounds and distractions while on calls, and listen to soft music to help you focus while you work. Make a plan to distribute household chores and child responsibilities. You will both be less likely to lose your cool or

SUPPORT YOUR KIDS No matter what age, your children may need some extra love, affection, and attention during this time so carve out time throughout the day so the kids know in advance when they have access to mom or dad. Whether it’s preparing lunch together, playing a game or taking a walk, you can point them to the schedule, and say, ‘We are going to hang out in 15 minutes’. Encourage them to entertain themselves, but help them manage their time wisely. Set up appropriate activities to keep them engaged. Look for an array of free online resources for virtual field trips, educational games, lesson plans, etc. Get creative.

TAKE SHORT, EFFECTIVE BREAKS Working for long stretches without breaks leads to stress and exhaustion. Getting up from your chair to stretch, take a family stroll, walk the dog, do yoga, or whatever activity you prefer can refresh your mind, replenish your mental resources, and help you become more productive and creative.

BE TRANSPARENT WITH YOUR BOSS If you aren’t seen, it’s important that you create a trail of visibility. Have a conversation with your boss about your daily schedule and if needed, ask for a modified schedule while working from home with your children. Send emails and drafts of your work, schedule time on your boss’s calendar to catch up once a week, and send your boss an end-of-theweek update to ensure all your hard work and accomplishments don’t go unnoticed and that you and your boss are on the same page. You don’t want to be out of sight, out of mind, and that’s why it’s necessary to keep both communication and rapport in motion.

STAY CONNECTED Now is the time to reach out to friends, family and coworkers however you can. Let people know how much you care about them through a phone call, text, video chat, email or social media. Chat with at least one co-worker via video chat per day for a meeting or just to bounce ideas off one another. In addition to any virtual classes your kids are doing, schedule virtual play dates, study sessions or read-alongs. Start and end your day with a virtual coffee chat or happy hour. The point is for everyone to have a bit of face-to-face time with other people so you all feel more connected and less isolated.

EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE With the Internet at our fingertips, there are a wealth of personal and professional development books, podcasts, webinars and training videos for you to utilize, including resources made available through the AAA, TAA and NAA. Use this time to sharpen your professional skills, expand on a hobby or learn something entirely new. Whether you’re wanting to grow personally or professionally, taking control of your own learning and development is empowering and exciting, increases your creativity and dedication, and can help you achieve your goals and dreams.

HAVE FUN AT WORK With more time spent away from others, finding ways to virtually connect has become an activity in itself. Play a game of show and tell where team members take turns showing their homes, share a zoomed-in image of something and have everyone guess what the object is, play a game of Zoom I-SPY and take turns choosing something in the grid while everyone else tries to guess what it is, or simply schedule a virtual team lunch or birthday celebration to keep things feeling “normal”. At a time when people need to feel connected more than ever, it’s the experiences we share that help us get through each day.

AFTER WORK, “GO HOME” (EVEN IF YOU ARE HOME)

When you’re done with your work day, stop working, clear your desk, turn off your computer and ‘go home’ by changing your clothes and leaving the office for the evening. When each part of your day is being conducted from the “comfort” of your home, it can be easy to think that you don’t need as much time to relax and decompress. But now more than ever, we all need to make sure we’re setting aside time to unplug.

BE SOCIAL Do what you can to bring people into your circle. Start a virtual book club or organize a web-based game night. A number of popular board games are available for free online. Start a recipe exchange. Host a virtual dinner party and get all dolled up. Plan a Netflix Party, that lets multiple viewers sync their video playback and chat about what’s going on. Attend a virtual church service, then organize a discussion to talk about the themes explored. Tune in to the same live-streaming concert or virtual gathering place to feel connected and inspired.

BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR With HOA and apartment amenities and gathering places closed, it’s important to find new and intentional ways to stay connected. Driveway and sidewalk happy hours are the new rage, so BYO folding chairs, beverages, and snacks and enjoy hanging out from afar. Host a drive-by birthday party or holiday celebration and ask neighbors, friends and family to cruise by slowly, tooting their horns, and waving. Get some sidewalk chalk and encourage your kids to get outside and draw a colorful image or some uplifting words for the neighbors to see. Join the scavenger hunt brigade and hang fun art in your windows or hide painted rocks around the hood for friends and neighbors to find as they drive or stroll by.

STAY ACTIVE Exercise is essential for better immune function, managing stress and anxiety, improving energy levels, and better sleep. Start your day with a good stretch or a virtual yoga or fitness class. There are loads of free online options out there for the whole family. Whether you’re a kid, teen or adult, play is also a great way to stay active. Have a dance party, water balloon fight, or even an old-fashioned game of tag. Movement and nature work especially well together to improve mood, so go for a bike ride, take a walk or hit the trails for a hike.

While we’ve learned a lot over the past few weeks, we don’t have all the answers – no one does. So, whether you decide to try some or all of these tips, the most important thing is to stay engaged. Social distancing should help keep us safe, but we need social connection to keep us sane. As you continue doing vital work for the rental housing industry during this critical time – remember to stay connected – and stay safe!