How To Get Some Alone Time While Living In Tight Quarters — Even During A Pandemic
Recently, a daytime talk show host said that her 15 minutes of bathroom time has become precious to her. A year ago, that would sound like a strange statement. But when people are largely staying at home due to social distancing, it actually sounds pretty normal — and definitely accurate for many.
Whether you’re in a state that’s still largely shut down or one that’s entering phases of reopening, the COVID-19 pandemic is not gone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to recommend staying at home whenever possible. And for people who do not live alone, this can mean more time constantly being around others and struggling to find some alone time.
But alone time is important — not just for your sanity but for other reasons, as well.
Alone Time: The Science-Backed Benefits
- Improves stress management
- Increases happiness
- Boosts productivity
- Sparks creativity
- Increases empathy for others
- Provides you with insight into who you are as a person
Source: Forbes
For celebrities with their sprawling mansions or Americans who live in rural areas with large plots of land, this may be relatively easy (though it can certainly feel stuffy in its own way). But for those of us living in a smaller space or a full house, the tight quarters may be enough to make you want to spend not just 15 minutes in the bathroom alone — but the entire day.
While there’s no magical fix to making your house larger overnight, there are ways to get some alone time during the pandemic.
1. Utilize places of solace, like your car.
Hiding in the bathroom may work for a little while, but if you have children, they’ll be knocking on your door before you know it. If you don’t have children, the people you share a house with will wonder if you’re okay, and they won’t be able to use the facilities themselves (assuming that you don’t have an extra bathroom).
Don’t worry — there are other places you can find solace, such as your car. No, you don’t need to get in it and drive away, but you can use it as a space for some alone time. Listen to music or your favorite podcast, talk on the phone, sit and meditate, or do nothing at all. The beauty is that there won’t be anyone asking you for a quick favor (because everybody knows those “Got a sec?” requests are never just one second).
Even if you’re just sitting in your car in front of your house, it allows you to respect social distancing rules and avoid public places while still getting that solitude you truly need.
2. Get outside (safely).
Depending on where you live, there are likely some places where you can get outside and still maintain distance. The more obvious places, such as a local park or nearby trail, are a great start. But if you’re a city dweller or looking for some change in scenery, there are other places that offer some space for some “me time,” such as:
- A rooftop
- An empty parking lot
- An open running track
Some cities, like Chicago and Oakland, are also designating some streets as “slow streets” or “shared streets.” These are intended to open up streets to accommodate walkers, runners, and bikers in addition to local traffic that are required to drive a bit slower than normal.
Whether you go for a walk, a jog, or simply pop up a lawn chair and sit down with a book, these are all places to safely distance while spending some alone time outside.
3. Put it on the calendar.
When all else fails, you may need to seek out some space within the confines of your own home. While this may sound impossible (particularly if you have little ones), it’s doable — especially if you schedule your alone time so everyone knows not to bother you.
If you and your partner are both working from home right now, take a look at your schedules and workflow. Find some time slots a few days a week where you can both alternate managing the kids.
If it’s just you and your children at home, consider planning your alone time for when they’re occupied and safe, such as while they’re taking a nap or watching their favorite television show in the next room.
Even if you don’t have children — or they’re older and don’t need to be watched — it may still be helpful to let everyone know you’re off-limits for the time being. Put your alone time in writing somewhere as if it were a doctor’s appointment or another meeting.
A Note About Multitasking
Spending time on your own is critical to your well-being, but it defeats the purpose if you try to do a dozen other tasks during your alone time.
Think of your body like your cell phone — if you want to charge it efficiently, you need to put it on the charger and leave it alone. Playing around with it while it’s regaining power takes away from its ability to recharge.
During your alone time, don’t try to multitask. This means no meetings, no quick-checks of your email, and no other people. Train yourself to appreciate solitude — your mental and physical health will thank you for it.
Do you want to create COVID-19-related content for your healthcare organization’s website? Let us know!
4 Healthcare Websites That Don’t Exist Yet … But Really Should
Digital marketing in healthcare is all about thinking outside the box. In fact, sometimes that box—or website—doesn’t even exist yet. Instead, all that exists is a blank space, waiting for its niche to be filled.
From helping hypochondriacs to assisting aspiring doctors, here are 4 healthcare websites that don’t exist yet … but really should.
1. The Healthy Hypochondriac
Being self-aware about your health is good. Knowing your body’s warning signals can alert you that it’s time to get checked out and treated by a medical professional.
Hypochondriacs take that self-awareness to a whole new level. We all know that one person who thinks that the smallest dull pain in his pinky toe must surely mean he’s dying. After all, he Googled it, so that one-in-a-million worst-case scenario must be true. There’s simply no way it’s just an ingrown toenail, right?
But what if there was a healthcare website that encouraged hypochondriacs to step away from the search bar and turn to the professionals instead? That’s where The Healthy Hypochondriac comes in.
This site would allow visitors to list their symptoms. Then, instead of providing them with a long list of results that vary in severity (and likelihood), from “you’ve stubbed your toe and it’s a little bruised” to “you’re definitely dying,” it would display the following message:
Only a qualified medical professional can diagnose your ailment with any degree of certainty. Not sure where the nearest provider is? Here is a list of medical specialists in your area.
The list that follows this message would include contact information for local providers, rather than a prescription for panic.
2. Dude, It’s Time For A Checkup
The problem with the stereotype that men hate going to the doctor—and thus will avoid doing so at all costs—is that it has become a self-perpetuating problem. Guys know they’re expected to want to avoid the doctor, and so they act accordingly, lest they be accused of being unmanly.
One way to stop the spread of this stereotype would be to instead spread the message that “real men know it’s okay to go to the doctor.” How?
Dude, It’s Time For A Checkup would feature multimedia messages from men whose successes span the cultural gamut—athletes, musicians, actors, scientists, entrepreneurs, and more—all sharing why they go to the doctor.
Messages can be targeted by specialty or condition—everything from the importance of having an annual physical to knowing your risk for prostate cancer.
Plus, there’s also the potential for a female-oriented spinoff: Girl, It’s Time To Get A Checkup.
3. Is This Health Info Legit?
Is This Health Info Legit? would be a myth-busting, fact-checking site—sort of like Snopes—but aimed solely at healthcare-related topics.
However, this site would take the mission of encouraging health literacy a step further. Sure, it would provide reliable information on the latest healthcare fads and news—and provide warnings about any misinformation that is making the rounds online.
But the site would also have a section dedicated to helping visitors make their own decisions about healthcare websites’ trustworthiness. How? By encouraging them to question an article’s sources and claims—and reminding them that their doctor can always help them separate fact from fiction.
4. There’s A Doc For That
Not all healthcare websites are aimed at patients. There’s A Doc For That is designed for the aspiring medical professional.
The goal? To educate future nurses, physicians, and other care providers about the wide range of medical specialties out there. The site would feature videos of doctors, nurses, and others giving the real scoop on what it’s like to work in their professions: the ups, the downs, and everything in between.
The site would also provide partnering opportunities for different professional organizations representing the different specialties.
For instance, medical associations could tout the benefits of membership in their organizations, hospitals could show off their cutting-edge research opportunities to draw in new talent, and nonprofits could recruit new providers to join them in their work.
Does your healthcare organization have an idea for a website that’s just begging to be created? Contact CareContent to find out how to turn that idea into a reality.
Pump It Up: 7 Ways To Get Millennial Employees Moving
Disclaimer: This story was written by a Millennial.
If it seems like your office has been taken over by Millennial employees, you’re not going crazy. Projections put Millennials (those born between 1981 and 1997) as a dominating presence, making up over half of the American workforce by 2020.
You’ve probably heard the grumblings about them: They’re lazy, entitled, and overly sensitive.
Well, despite what you may have heard, this generation has shown it’s a force to be reckoned with in the workplace. Millennials tend to be highly educated, driven, open to feedback, and hungry for opportunities to improve their work. They’re loyal and hard-working—and are hopeful for the future.
There’s something else you may or may not know about Millennials: They are obsessed with self-care. They love exercising and focusing on their health.
This is where you have a golden opportunity.
Staying physically active is a major component of staying healthy. And it’s becoming a well-known fact that employees are more productive and have higher performance when they are healthy. So, with a workforce full of employees who are looking to stay active, it’s the perfect setup for employee physical activity programs.
Here are 7 ways to encourage physical activity for your Millennial employees (well, all of your employees).
Improving employee health in the workplace is a great start, but how else can you keep up success in your business? Keep checking the CareContent blog for more tips on running a healthcare business.
