Do you find that remote working during these days of forced “stay at home” is driving you crazy? Can you not seem to handle the mental stress of being responsible for your own time or not seeing your work colleagues? Real, remote working is not all joy and light, but there are tips and tricks from experts that can help you cope better and come out feeling on top of the world.
Working remotely has a dark side, especially when you have to juggle home, family, and school responsibilities. It’s not easy, and your mental health suffers, but there are things you can do to stay mentally healthy. Let’s list the complaints or factors that make remote working intellectually challenging.
Isolation & Loneliness
You have always thought that remote working would be awesome, but your find that you can’t chat with your coworkers, and going out to lunch to work off stress is not an option. You are disconnected from coworkers, you are left feeling isolated and alone, and these can affect you by causing anxiety or depression.
More Pressure & Stress
Remote working gives you more flexibility, but you have a lack of structure in your routine, now, and this is challenging. Your time management, responsiveness, digital understanding, and virtual connectivity have been cut off, and you are stressed.
Depression
Those who work at home feel stuck in one place and have no social contacts. They work at a monotonous place, and this contributes to being depressed.
How to Manage Mental Health
Dr. Bhavna Barmi, a clinical physiologist, lists the brighter side of working from home. If you think about these bright notes, you may not feel so isolated, pressured, and depressed.
- Not commuting to work saves time and reduces stress levels.
- Greater flexibility comes from working from home. You can arrange your day and determine when you are most productive, wear what you want, and create a relaxed routine.
- Control your distractions easier if you are at home than in an office.
- Design your workplace to suit your liking. Defining your own space boosts productivity and motivation.
- You can save money since you are not eating out and commuting.
- Be completely independent, which builds more self-discipline, focus, motivation, and concentration.
Tips to Manage Your Mental Health
Surveys conducted on workers who are now forced to work from home listed several ideas for staying mentally well.
1. Create Routines
Wake up at the same time each time and establish a bit of time for yourself before jumping into work projects. Create self-care activities before you head into your home office. Set aside quiet time to have coffee, snuggle with your pet, or listen to a podcast or music. Read a chapter o a book, write in your journal, or get some exercise. The idea is to continue doing the things you do if you were going into the office. Get yourself ready for the day, and you will feel more focused.
2. Maintain To-Do Lists & Highlight Important Tasks
Do not list everything you need to do, but pick out three important projects. Celebrate wins and share your successes with teammates online. Do keep a regular schedule and share your calendar with coworkers. Ask for help when you need it.
3. Create Your Workspace
Maintain a regular, quiet workspace and keep it organized and clean. Do not work from your kitchen table, and avoid places that you associate with leisure time. Make sure you have natural light, plants, and pictures that boost your mood.
4. Eat Healthily
Continue to fix yourself hot meals and stay hydrated. Prepare your lunches and store them in your refrigerator. Eat on a schedule as if you were in the office. Make sure the food you eat is healthy and not junk food from your refrigerator.
5. Be Organized
Keep the office supplies you need at home. If you have challenges, communicate these challenges to your supervisors or coworkers.
6. Take Breaks
Take your regular lunch break, but maybe take your lunch outside or enjoy a virtual lunch with a coworker. Eat lunch with your family, and put a time limit on your lunch. Take quick breaks throughout the day. You can take a break by going for a walk or run outside, disconnect from your electronics when you want a mental break, meditate, or reflect on what going on around you.
7. Set Boundaries
Set boundaries and turn off your work and electronics after work hours. Don’t look at social media apps when you should be working and set a timer to keep your focus on the task. Try to limit news and media exposure during work hours, and make sure you have a concrete end-time. Separate yourself from your work.
8. Set Expectations
Set expectations with those in your home. You can do this by designating an open workspace. Set up a system that won’t distract your family. If you have children, perhaps take them to daycare (if available) while you work from home. If not, block time out for important meetings or time of focus. Design a buddy system with coworkers. Ask them to check on you during the day to make sure you are working and staying accountable.
9. Maintain Your Normal Habits
Keep up your normal habits by having face-to-face connections through video: plan digital coffee breaks and check-ins to help create connectedness. Walk around your home regularly and stretch your legs. Try to remember that although you do not have the same amount of social interactions at home as you would in the office, make it a point to check in with coworkers.
10. Have Patience
Patience during these challenging times is mentally crucial. Don’t expect everything to be perfect as you work at home. Try to implement different recommendations each day. Find things that work for you and start small. Incorporate one new habit per week to start your home working career. If you are not up to par, avoid your office. Everyone has off-days, and it is okay.
Final Words
Realize that your home office will never replicate your outside office. You have great perks when working at home – no commune, homemade lunches, wearing pyjamas all day if you like – it can take a toll on your mental health. Forgive yourself for not maintaining the same energy you would look at work. Take time out every day and every week for self-care. Make your self-care time a time that refreshes you and allows you to recharge. Make changes in your office if you like, and make the best of the situation during these chaotic times.
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