In part one, we talked about the new reality of remote work and how to beat it with Jedi mind (and mom!) tricks. In part two of our epic blog trilogy, you’ll find ways to enhance your #WFH warrior training mentally, physically, and emotionally… sometimes, with a little help from our fuzzy Jedi masters. (Hey, Luke had Yoda, right? But don’t get me started about Ewoks.)
5. Read… Like a Boss!
“I get up about a half an hour early and read a marketing book that really interests me and take copious notes,” says our fearless CEO Pam Cox-Otto, who holds down the fort in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
“When I see something that is directly applicable to my ideas and what we do for colleges, I highlight it so that it becomes another ‘arrow in my quiver.’”
Reading boosts memory and thinking skills and keeps brains healthy, according to an article in Bustle. The mental workout can even help people live longer while improving cognitive flexibility. For the remote worker, reading is the mental equivalent of pushups, revving up our brains to move the galaxy.
As the marketing warrior says, for her, reading about her favorite subject “also fires up my thinking, so I’m sharper when the meetings and planning start.”
6. Get the Blood (and the Creative Juices) Flowing
“Need to approve a podcast or take a call? Do it while on a walk so you can stretch your legs and get the blood flowing,” says Interact’s Director of Marketing Angela Carollo, keeping things moving in Wisconsin.
In between virtual meetings and projects, she’ll challenge herself to 10 pushups or three jumping jacks.
“Exercise will keep you productive and happy, and it’ll make you more resilient to stressors,” advises Angela.
Truth. According to Scientific American, part of the magic of exercise is that it increases blood flow to your body and brain, which equals more energy and oxygen for mental heavy lifting.
7. Fuzzy Personal Trainers
“Changing our environment can really help us seeing things clearer or from a completely different perspective,” shares our Creative Lead Mai Kamolchanok Yingneuk in Wisconsin.
“When stuck, I find getting out of the house or taking my dog for a walk, even just around a block or two, really helps clear my mind and can put me right back on track.”
Some remarkable studies show that walking boosts thinking, memory and even brain health. According to an article from Forbes, a Stanford study saw walking increase inspiration by 60%, while they say spending time in nature can be a regular “brain elixir.”
With an adorable personal trainer like Otis the golden retriever, it’s no wonder Mai is always at her creative best. She says nature is a source of her inspiration and perspiration that’s “good for us and our doggo.”
8. Best Friends Beat Stress
“When I’m working, I usually have a fresh cup of coffee on my desk, some relaxing lo-fi playing through my headphones, and my cat sitting next to me in his cat tree,” says our Social Media Manager Wyatt Gag in Wisconsin.
It’s probably no surprise to pet owners, but our fuzzy besties are good for our mental health. Studies have shown that pet owners have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, according to The Help Guide. And throwing the old squeaky toy for a dog or cat can even boost serotonin and dopamine, the hormones that can help us “quarantine and chill.”
On top of having a Pinterest-worthy workspace, Wyatt says, “Whenever I’m stressed, I just turn over to Rengar, my cat, and get a quick one-minute pet session in, and I’m ready to go again!”
More one-of-a-kind, one-with-the-WFH lifehacks coming soon in the thrilling conclusion: “Return of the WFH Interact Jedi: How to Get Your Brain in the Game.” From fighting for fika to outside-of-the-box WFH rituals, it’s the saga climax you won’t want to miss.
Do you have a WFH warrior tip you’d like to share? Let us know how you beat burnout and blursday blues on our LinkedIn or Facebook . You might even make it into our Jedi hall of fame ????
Written by “word nerd” and Interact copywriter Rachel Rosen-Carroll. For fun, Rachel reads style guides and the dictionary (she prefers The American Heritage Dictionary… we wouldn’t make this up).
When she isn’t writing feature stories about inspiring community college alum, she’s working on her YA novel, short stories and poetry, and she has been published by various lit journals. Ask her questions or suggest word nerd blog ideas at rachel.rosencarroll@interactcom.com.
