Surviving isolation: A few tips from expats and foreigners living their fourth week of isolation in Spain

By Miguel Garzón, myGwork Spain.

During our first week that this ban and lockdown was introduced and we couldn´t leave our homes as usual, most of those around me had little normalcy. Their working time became less efficient, especially for those that are not accustomed to working from home. Moreover, our free time was used to watch Netflix (yes, here in Madrid, we’ve already watched all the episodes of the new top TV shows and films). On top of that, anxiety has grown while being constantly at home, and we’ve spent a lot of time visiting our fridges.

As a result, our normal and healthy routines have turned into a now sedentary lifestyle. Outdoor sports, gym, walking, hanging out with friends; these activities sound like a privilege from better times. I have had to park my bicycle, waiting for those moments to return.

Nevertheless, our life is starting a new kind of normal routine, bringing some order and balance. We are not in an ideal situation, but we have regained control of our lives. Now, working at home is more useful and efficient than working from an office. A degree of consciousness is absolutely necessary, mental health requires timetables, stability and making changes to your daily life when needed.

I’ve spoken with expats and foreigners living in Spain, now entering their fourth week of confinement, who would like to offer their words of advice:

Jan Buycks, an engineer from Belgium, shares that after a few days to adjust to the situation he is now trying to stick to a routine and dressing up for work during the week. This helps him to be productive and keep his good mood. For his work, he looks for a well-lit and quiet space, and tries to work from there every day, while in his free time he tries to mix it as much as possible, making the most of all the spaces available. “I´m lucky that my flat is on the top floor, and I have an extraordinary daylight, this sunlight brings me optimism and good vibes”.

Alexandre Fernandes, from Portugal and working in Sales. Everyday he creates a list of all his goals for the day. This helps to prioritise tasks and understand what are the achievements. Creating order and routine helps to separate work time and free time. Working from home means that switching off once the workday is done can be a challenge but incorporating sporting activities to his leisure time help him do it.

Julie Coles, a consultant from the UK, has left or silenced notifications on several social media groups as the increased level of activity became overly distracting and at times unhelpful. She has been enjoying connecting with friends, colleagues and family via video calls, imagining fun things to do once this is over and finding the humour in some of the surreal situations we find ourselves in. She keeps count of the days since Madrid went into lockdown as she finds it helpful to remember that every single day we stay at home means more lives will be saved and we all get a day closer to freedom.

Guillermo Teyechea, a Mexican working as an operational leader in an international Company feels the key is a good “working environment” against isolation. Teleworking doesn´t mean disconnection. Videocalls and virtual coffees are a great option to maintain a close contact with their colleagues. Projects and goals are a way to maintain normality, plus connection with the inclusion resources groups of the company can make the difference. There is also important, to have a short break with coworkes and generally know how they are doing, asking about their health, family and other personal stuff.

Simon Ovadia, from Germany: 'It certainly is odd timing to finish my MBA degree. Suddenly, time is not the scarce resource I remember. What has helped me the most navigating this time of uncertainty and staying productive is to stick to a routine. Getting up in the morning, starting with a workout, and then jump into e-mails, online courses etc. before beginning the next show on Netflix has given me the feeling of normalcy. It’s also a great time to reconnect with people or try something new, be it a recipe, a new language, or a hobby. We will soon try out painting a big canvas together, and I have recently started courses on SQL and Catalan. I also hear puzzles are coming back in full swing.'

Keep up to date with the latest myGnews

Sign up to mygwork

________

LGBT professionals, LGBT Graduates, LGBT professional network, LGBT professional events, LGBT networking events, LGBT Recruitment, LGBT Friendly organisations, LGBT Friendly companies, LGBT jobs