LETTER | In the past few days, the numbers of Covid-19 infections and deaths have worsened and petrified many Malaysians. Almost 20,000 people have been infected with the coronavirus disease that spread wildly among our community in just three days.

Due to that, the government has announced a tighter movement control order (MCO) implemented to flatten the Covid-19 curve. According to Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob, one of the measures taken is for 80 percent of government employees to work from home, while for private-sector employees, the figure is fixed at 40 percent.

In addition, the people are advised to go out of then homes only when there is a necessity and to keep being at home. These are crucial at this moment in battling the Covid-19 pandemic. All Malaysians are urged to stay at home to combat this lethal pandemic that has taken numerous innocent lives, especially with the new existence of the Covid-19 variants in our community.

How are we to keep productive throughout the day, even though we are at home? Here are some thoughts for being more effective that you may want to consider.

First and foremost is accepting the situation that we have no control over the pandemic since there are no other choices. A lot of people might overlook these situations.

Various bad feelings and emotions might surround us, such as anxiety, sorrow, depression, fear, and sadness; hence having them controlled is particularly important. Unable to interact face to face with family members, friends and colleagues might impact certain people with mental health issues.

Talk about your feelings and emotions to those who you trust and are close to during challenging times like this. It is crucial to keep in touch with your family and friends, especially those who feel lonely and quarantined or stayed alone.

Unstable feelings and emotions can affect our daily productivity and our ability to focus. Therefore, stay positive and have fun, even though the number of negative news is depressing. Let it be as simple as laughing with your family and friends. It is good to keep laughing and feel positive.

Those working from home should consider confined space for their work from home. Create a space specified for working at home. Avoid being in your comfortable pyjamas clothing. Instead, change to working attire or wear a proper and lovely dress when working from home as this could help you stay productive throughout the day.

Staying productive throughout the day is crucial to ensure our daily tasks are done. In addition, an employer also plays a significant role in ensuring their employers are taken care of. Therefore, the employer should have empathy, especially for remote work and other responsibilities at home. For instance, employers, companies, and educational institutions must consider family obligations, distance or hybrid schooling for children, and other life commitments. As an alternative, employers should provide a flexible and appropriate work schedule.

Prepare a short daily to-do list and emphasise your priorities, whether it's working or studying from home. Datelines and updating your calendar and planner daily or weekly would help you stay on track. In addition, you may want to give it a try on the Pomodoro Technique.

There are a lot of productivity applications available in the Pomodoro Technique. The Pomodoro Technique was initially created by an Italian named Francesco Cirillo. This technique is valuable and optimal for most types of work and for those who are easily distracted.

According to Francesco Cirillo's website, almost two million people who used the method improved their lives by being more focused and efficient. Get yourself occupied with your favourite activities, such as watching an exciting movie or reading an enjoyable book after working hours.

On top of that, expose yourself to natural light during the morning or evening, such as gardening or walking around the neighbourhood. Nevertheless, practice social distancing all the time when you are outside your home. Geddes in the BBC Future states that having sufficient UVB exposure would increase our production of Vitamin D in the skin, which helps to improve our bones and teeth and our immune cells. Getting outdoor light is also crucial for our body and can improve our sleep quality. Having a proper scheduled sleep is vital for our mental health and immune system. In addition to that, performance, focus, and productivity levels can improve with a night of better sleep.

We might see the Covid-19 pandemic having forced us to stay home as all bad; however, "every cloud has a silver lining." By working from home, no more time spent on commuting to work, especially those who travel to work by public transportation. With that in mind, working from home can reduce transportation expenses such as fuels, parking fees, tolls.

In addition, people are becoming more aware of hygiene. Nowadays, practising hygiene is more than just a reasonable manner - it is survival. Other than that, since children are learning from home, together with parents working remotely, this escalates your family time together.

Furthermore, since schools are closed, and children learn from home, virtual classrooms, learning and office environments are needed. All these online media such as Google Meet and Microsoft Teams have become necessary for each person to stay connected with their friends, teachers, and colleagues. Therefore, indirectly, this has increased the opportunity for online learning and video applications to upgrade and expand their services.

NUR ATHIRAH AIMAN BINTI AZHAN is a student at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.