Carrying on, when workspace and self-space are the same space

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April 6, 2020 — Welcome back to another week of social distancing and working from home. Covid-19 has inspired unusual work and living situations, even drastically altering what we consider a "Case of the Mondays." I thought I would love my new co-workers, but between the mid-shift naps and constant meowing for attention, I’m already missing the office.

  

Today's Daily CurveFlattener is reported by Jeremy Visser. As a student and part-timer at Chronicle Companies in Toronto, I’ve had the interesting challenge of both working from home and attending remote classes. While these less-than-ideal conditions have made everyday life more difficult, it can’t be overstated how powerful the tools of the digital age are during this global crisis.

During social distancing, using social media and messaging to stay in contact with your friends and family is plainly important. While getting out of the house for some entertainment isn’t an option, there’s lots of other ways to tend to stay engaged while at home. Participate in a weekly trivia night, do yoga over Instagram Live, or, alternately, watch your favorite Toronto rapper put on a free show from his bathroom.

If you’re being socially responsible and are able to work from home, count your blessings, and try to establish and maintain a routine for working hours and another for your own time. If you happen to occupy a small apartment in an urban area, you may not have a lot of space to allocate to both living and working -- but designate an office area and declare it separate from your Netflix-binge area. And if they both happen to be different ends of your kitchen table, well, it's the gesture that counts, isn't it? 

COVID CHRONICLE 04/06/2020

• More than 450 license mental health workers have volunteered their services to front-line healthcare workers during the global pandemic. Psychotherapist Karen Dougherty created the Ontario Covid-19 Therapists group to provide psychotherapy over the phone.
• A daily updated chart has been created to track the confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Canada and nine other countries to compare the effectiveness of their response to flatten the curve.
• Shoppers Drug Mart has opened a virtual stress management program to help Canadians coping with stress during the current crisis. It will be available nationwide until June 15.
• Canada's federal government has come under criticism for their response to Covid-19 in regards to mental health. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged people to reach out for help to a hotline. Observers note the absence of any federal hotline for the emotionally distressed.
• The current issue of Lancet has collected research showing that Covid-19 is not only causes more cases of mental health disorders, but that those with mental health disorders have an increased risks during the global pandemic.

STORIES CHRONICLE IS WORKING ON TODAY

Social media and TV linked to depression: While focused on adolescents, the findings of a study on mood disorders appear very relevant given the current state of the world. In an upcoming edition of Pediatric Chronicle, research links adolescent depression with elevated social media and TV use. However, video-game use was not similarly linked.  

RIGHT NOW WE’RE LISTENING TO…

"Ghosts V: Together" and "Ghosts VI: Locusts" by Nine Inch Nails. The band's front-man, Trent Reznor, provides my go-to study music. In response to Covid-19, Reznor last week released both albums as free downloads. 

LATER WE’RE READING…

V. E. Schwab’s Vicious. Nothing like a global pandemic to make you crave some fantasy novels for escapism. Taking a dark and realistic approach to superheroes, the author details the origin stories of medical students turned into "ExtraOrdinary’s" and their complicated lives and relationships.

TONIGHT WE’RE COOKING…

Orange, Kale, Avocado Salad: I love fresh produce, but when you’re trying to limit your grocery store visits, it’s best to stick to robust greens like kale. This salad is great on a regular day, but is even better during self-isolation.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

Please make use of the comments section of the Daily CurveFlattener, to let us know what you’re up to today. Or feel free to check in via LinkedIn, email, or your choice of connector. By all means, pass this newsletter along to you colleagues, and when you’re done, please wash your hands. 

That’s it. Stay in touch, stay in, and stay safe, until tomorrow.