Many people have to continue to work from home as businesses slowly adapt to new safety protocols, if you haven’t already done so, you may want to consider some of the coping strategies that have worked well for others.

Some great ways to make working from home easier and more productive include the following:

• Stick to a set workspace every day—If you’ve found yourself moving from place to place each with your laptop, it’s better to choose one location and stick with it, even if it’s just a corner of a room or space at a table. The benefits of headphones with white noise or music cannot be overstated.
• Take a walk around the yard or block before you start working—This can take the place of your commute, and you can use it for meditation and reflection. Plus, you can get some fresh air and boost your mood as well.
• Try to keep to a work routine—As with other routines around meals and leisure time, sticking to a set schedule will help alleviate stress and anxiety. Keeping to a work routine with kids running around can be a challenge. Try to do work tasks in smaller segments to help allow for the inevitable interruptions.
• Take breaks throughout the workday—Squeeze in several mental health breaks each day. Just taking 15 minutes to stretch, walk, or have a healthy drink or snack will suffice. You can even take a power nap if that’s your thing.

And for any foot or ankle issues, be sure to contact your foot doctor. At Your Next Step, our team of board-certified podiatrists has access to advanced technologies, along with years of experience, to help diagnose and treat a variety of foot and ankle problems, including sports injuries, joint pain, toe deformities, nail fungus, chronic tendon pain, and skin problems. Dr. Eric Ricefield, Dr. Mark Yagodich, and Dr. Aliza V. Eisen provide high-quality foot and ankle care to patients in the greater Philadelphia area at our offices conveniently located in Ardmore, Paoli, and Downingtown, PA. Please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.