Working from Home During Coronavirus Isolation

As Nevada looks to cross the threshold of 100 coronavirus cases in the state any moment now, life as you know it may change drastically. Las Vegas has already shuttered most of its casinos, and there’s a good chance your community is asking you to socially distance.

If that turns into a shelter in place order like California and New York have announced, a lot of you may need to start working from home. Hopefully, your workplaces have already accommodated this. Either way, how you’re working is most likely going to change.

If you’re new to the work from home game, welcome. I’ve been doing it for about a week now and it’s definitely been an adjustment. Below, I’ll provide you with a couple of tips that have helped me settle into the new routine of working remotely.

It’s also a difficult time on a mental health and stress level too. People who have struggled with addiction in the past or are currently battling substance abuse might find themselves without the in-person resources they have come to rely on. Thankfully, many organizations have stepped up and provided virtual resources. I’ll list some of those too.

Maintain a Healthy Diet

Not all of us work at super fancy office buildings that have snacks brimming out of the cabinets in the kitchen. But, when you work from home, you control the snacks. For those who have great willpower, this is no problem. For the rest of us, those snacks might be gone in 1-2 business days. It’s difficult but try to limit your snacking to what you used to do at the office.

But a healthy breakfast and lunch can help keep you productive, and less likely to seriously consider napping when you’re supposed to be working.

Strong Communication with Coworkers 

In a lot of cases, it’s easier to connect over your work in person. Although there are a plethora of services out there that facilitate online communication, sometimes face to face does it best.

But that’s not an option for a lot of you right now, so you’ll need to step up your communication game. Email, phone call, chat, video conference: use it all. Although your peers don’t need updates every 5 minutes, it’s definitely a good time to be over communicating. Ask a lot of questions, be available during your normal work hours, and remember to check in on the folks you work with—this is a difficult time for everyone.

Make Time for A Mental Break

Here in California, we can’t leave our houses except to get essential items and go for a walk, provided we practice social distancing. But in Nevada, you’re able to go out and about…for now. 

• Take advantage of this while you can and go on a hike or to your favorite local park to get some fresh air. This is helpful for your physical and mental health and provides a healthy break from your workday.
• If you’re mostly stuck inside like I am, there are several things you can do digitally. For example, the Nevada Historical Society has some of its collections online that you can virtually tour. Other museums in the region most likely have online learning opportunities as well.
• The Monterey Bay Aquarium in California offers several different live cams of its aquariums. A personal favorite—and one of the most relaxing, in my opinion, is the jelly fish cam.

Resources for Those Struggling with Sobriety

There is no shame in reaching out for help, especially in a time such as this. With limited in-person resources, if any, people who have relied on their weekly meetings to help with their recovery journey may not know where to turn for help.

Several resources are emerging online:

• American Addiction Centers, Desert Hope’s parent company, now has virtual meetings. They are based in the 12-step approach like AA and NA, and are free for anyone to join.
• Desert Hope Treatment Center, located in Nevada, offers an alumni program for people who have successfully completed treatment at our facility.
• As tried and true pillars of the recovery community, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous both have created more online options to join virtual meetings.

Hopefully these resources and work from home tips are enough to help you get through this trying time. If not though, know that there are more resources out there for you. If you feel like you are close to relapsing or need more help with substance abuse than you can get in virtual meetings, call . One of our compassionate admissions navigators will help you however they can.