Charles Morgan How To Focus On Work When All You Can Think About Is Coronavirus | Simple Self-Care Practices | 4 Wa

Plus: Why empathy is essential when leading through crisis

Over the past couple of months, how many quick Google searches for “coronavirus” have turned into hours-long investigations into the latest number of confirmed cases and treatment trials? If the answer is more than a few, you’re not alone: According to a study by researchers at Ohio State University, during the Zika virus outbreak of 2015 and 2016, the more people learned about the epidemic, the more they felt they needed to learn. Knowledge is power, there’s no doubt about it, but what happens when you become so immersed in information that you can’t concentrate on your job?

For starters, focus on the positive effects of your work. Instead of allowing yourself to become overwhelmed by how much you have to do, remind yourself of how rewarding it feels to check an item off of your to-do list, or how completing a project will help you colleagues, customers and career.

And here’s more on everything you need to know about working from home during the coronavirus pandemic.

For more on working and leading from home, check out our guide, updated daily.

The Telecommuter's Toolkit

With entire organizations working from home, employees have been forced to rely on impersonal modes of communication to stay in touch. But when a sense of connection is critical for both morale and productivity, what are managers to do? Here’s how four leaders are promoting remote team bonding.

After years spent debating the pros and cons of remote work, in a matter of weeks, millions have found themselves telecommuters. But will this short-term experiment make the case for the long-term implementation that employees have wanted, and employers have resisted?

You may know all about your employees’ professional lives, but how much do you know about their personal lives? Now more than ever it is important to get to know the members of your team on an individual level. Lead with empathy and authenticity, and follow these steps.

The Break Room

Looking for a new hobby? There’s no better time to pick up photography. The Nikon School Online is streaming its courses free of charge, giving you the chance to learn the craft from the best in the business.

Forbes Advisor: If you have to go to the grocery store, avoid cash transactions and take advantage of touch-free payment methods. Here's what you need to know.