Devan Moonsamy

South Africa has been placed on lockdown by President Cyril Ramaphosa in a bid to flatten the curve as the number of people found positive with the coronavirus rises. We reported our first cases of lives being lost by the virus which has not just brought changes to South Africa, but to the rest of the world as well.

This period of being home has been difficult for many South Africans. We have seen defiance as people take to the streets and shops as if there is no lockdown. But we have to applaud the relentless work by our officials ensuring swift action against those not adhering to the lockdown regulations.

That being said companies who are not classified as essential services have also adhered to the lockdown regulations. That being said employees are home bound and under stress about their future at their company.

With the stress about what the salary for April will look like there is also concern about productivity. Many employees have opted to work from home. But for some the luxury of doing this is not possible.

Now whilst we have those that are able to assist customers and keep the wheel turning, there are also those that are not as fortunate.  But to the workaholics who have to work with tasks and to do list, the period of this lockdown can be stressful. Here are a few tips to survive the lockdown as a workaholic.

  • Get locked into a schedule. As much as you are used to having back to back meetings and a large to do list, working from home can make you feel like you have less things that need to be done. By sticking to schedule you will work on you work anxiety.
  • Create a to do list. The to do list may not be as detailed as one that you would have at the office but it should be enough to ensure the tasks that need your most urgent attention are completed.
  • Check on your other colleagues. Skype them or use Zoom just to see how they are holding up. Speaking about deadlines and other work-related successes will assist you to feel more productive. Infact try having meetings to share ideas and discuss topics that would usually get into a debate at the office. This will help you and the team still feel connected.
  • Try to use this time to do something to relax. Use this time to also focus on yourself. Meditate and exercise. This can help you focus your energy on something else. This will also help you to use this lockdown as a short sabbatical if you can.
  • Working from home might also not keep you busy the entire day. In this time you could also subscribe to online courses. There are a number of sites online that offer short courses. You could visit Udemy to do a few online short courses. You could even contact your training provider to see if they are using online methods for training. At ICHAF training we are offering this option to our clients. This way you will be upskilling yourself and keeping the work anxiety at bay.
  • Hit the reset button. Sometimes our to do lists and the need to always have our ducks in a row can be overwhelming. But if we just take some time to reset our system and life, we could be even more productive. We suggest realigning your thoughts to not stress about work but rather focus on your wellbeing.

Devan Moonsamy is the CEO of ICHAF Training Institute. ICHAF offers SETA-approved training in business skills, computer use, and soft skills. Devan specialises in conflict and diversity management, and regularly conducts seminars on these issues for corporates. To book a seminar with Devan or for other training courses, please use the contact details below.

Tel: 011 262 2461 | Email: devan@ichaftraining.co.za | Website: ichaftraining.co.za | devan-moonsamy.com