For over a year, billions of people have grown accustomed to remote work and virtual learning. With vaccine rollouts, some people are just going back to work after COVID. This timing coincides with the end of summer as kids go back to school. Both situations might be stressful for parents and kids alike. Here are tips to deal with returning to the office and school reopening in 2021.
Start Your Routine Now
Distanced learning and working from home have given us the privilege of sleeping in a few extra minutes and spending the day in our pajamas. These habits will no longer work when you return to work or school.
Just as it took some time to acquaint with a new schedule during the COVID-19 pandemic, returning to "normal" is going to require some adjustments, too.
Get up at the times you used to when you were getting your child ready for in-person schooling. Prep for everything you would on a normal workday, minus waking up your child. See how the new you adapt to this routine first.
Once you're back into the swing of things, start getting your kids up earlier every day. Have them ease into a regimen that includes getting dressed, washed, and fed by the time you'd need t lo leave during the school year.
Brain-Boosting Foods
Being in an office environment or a school setting can be mentally taxing. In-person learning and working demand more attention than what's been required these past couple of years. It's important that our brain cells are functioning on all cylinders.
Gear up for a return to work and school by increasing the amount of omega-3 fatty acids on the dinner menu. These healthy fats help protect neurons from inflammation caused by a Western Diet of fast foods, snacks, and processed meals.
Some of the best foods for brain power include:
- Walnuts
- Wild-Caught Fish
- Pasture-Raised Eggs
- Berries
- Cocoa
- Mushrooms
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
It's challenging to find a healthy balance when meal planning. Sometimes, it's best to use all-natural supplements so that you can guarantee an adequate omega-3 intake.
Tranquility Labs' Olive Leaf Extract is fortified with 20% oleuropein. Studies on oleuropein show that this potent compound prevents oxidative damage associated with Parkinson's Disease. It's also effective in preventing the build-up of beta-amyloid, a protein associated with Alzheimer's Disease.
Get the Latest News
Don't enter any new situation without knowing the facts. The COVID-19 pandemic is a dynamic situation, especially with the Delta variant. Make sure you have the latest updates about social distancing protocols at work or in-person learning requirements in the school district. Protect yourself and your family by following your local health guidelines.
Knowing what to expect is essential for overcoming your anxiety triggers. Prior knowledge can help you plan for these situations accordingly. It may even prompt you to make life-changing decisions, such as searching for remote work or enrolling your children in online degree programs.
Meditate
Meditation is an excellent way to calibrate your mental health. Many studies suggest that regular meditation practice can lower stress levels and bring hormonal balance.
This form of self-care allows you to pull your racing thoughts in so that you can be present in the moment. It allows people who are studying, learning, or working to immerse themselves in the tasks at hand.
This type of mental clarity is essential whether you're in the workforce, elementary school, or pursuing higher education!
You can enhance your meditation practice with the use of all-natural supplements. Tranquility Labs' Tranquilene Total Calm is crafted with all-natural botanicals, vitamins, and herbs that promote a relaxed mind.
This proprietary formula decreases stress hormones while increasing levels of serotonin and GABA. These feel-good hormones will get you in the right headspace for a successful meditation session.
Play Brain Games
Think of the brain as a muscle. The more you train it, the stronger it gets. We've given our brains plenty of time to veg out and binge-watch TV. It's time for the brain to stop being such a couch potato and put in some reps.
All athletes need to train for big performances. Get your household ready for school and work by playing brain games, like:
- Scrabble/Words with Friends
- Luminosity
- Concentration
- Rummy 500
- Chess
- Crossword Puzzles
Brain teasers, word puzzles, and card games are all excellent ways to exercise the brain. These games help open up new pathways in the brain. Plus, they keep grey matter healthy to prevent atrophy. That way, you can concentrate during a meeting or participate in in-person instruction.
You can further enhance your concentration with the support of daily supplements. Tranquility Labs' Focusene contains a blend of all-natural botanicals, vitamins, and minerals that boost levels of cAMP in the brain. cAMP is an electric currency that helps brain cells improve communication.
This all-natural supplement also contains various amino acids and vitamins that act as catalysts for brainpower. Every ingredient is added to improve neural communication every step of the way!
Put A Positive Spin On It
State of mind is all perspective. Sure, returning to work or school during a pandemic can come with some apprehensions. So, we must find ways to turn these negative feelings into positive ones.
Reward yourself or your loved ones with some new clothes to return in. Get a poppable calendar filled with chocolates leading up to the first day back. Go on a family outing to get school or work supplies.
Embrace the fact that we have the privilege to earn money and learn. Transforming your perspective can makes this transition much easier.
Essential Takeaways:
- Being prepared for a return to work or school will make the transition easier
- Start your routine now by waking up earlier, eating healthier foods, and using all-natural supplements
- Meditation and putting a positive spin on things can make this return less stressful
- Keep the mind sharp with game and by paying attention to the local news
BONUS RECIPE: BANANA OATMEAL PANCAKES
INGREDIENTS
- 1 packet Quaker flavored instant oatmeal (any flavor)
- 1/2 banana, mashed
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 vanilla
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/4 cup sugar-free maple syrup
- Place all the ingredients in a bowl and blend well.
- Ladle out a large spoonful of the mixture into a non-stick skillet and cook on a simmering flame.
- When the pancake is cooked on one side and it moves when you shake the pan, flip the pancake over.
- When the pancake browns on both sides, dish out the pancake and serve with maple syrup.
