Tending To Your Mental Health Working From Home

“With many of us working from home, it is more important than ever to ensure that our mental health is being tended to. Many of us are worrying about the current situation surrounding coronavirus, and how it may affect our lives in the future. New survey results have actually shown that 80% of people feel that working from home has impacted their mental health, in a negative way. It is important that we recognise how it may affect our mental health, and we’re here to offer some guidance on how to take care of yourself and colleagues when working from home.

Maintain a positive work/life balance
When working from the comfort of your home, it can be easy to work for longer hours and take fewer breaks. To ensure you don’t run over your usual working hours, why not set a reminder on your phone for when you finish? It is also a good idea to set reminders for regular breaks. During your break, why not get some fresh air or go on a short walk? Looking after your wellbeing is important, and can even make you more productive.

Establish a routine
Working from home can be challenging to say the least, and sometimes our attention starts to wander. To avoid this, establishing a clear routing is essential. Start by allocating a place to work which has minimal distractions, such as a spare room or office space. Be sure that in this space you can work comfortably and ergonomically. Set a routine for your day, and try to stick to it as much as possible. Take a look at our Optimum Working From Home Routine blog for some inspiration on how to structure your day effectively. Having a clear working from home routine will help you feel more motivated and productive as the day progresses.

Use available support
Most employers will be there for you to provide the necessary support throughout this period. Whether than be assistance programmes or just someone to talk to, knowing that you have support if you need it is essential. If you have ongoing health or mental health conditions, it is important to make your employer aware so that they can make reasonable adjustments. This could range from additional support from colleagues or providing more equipment to help you manage. It is likely that throughout this uncertain time you will experience distress and anxiety when working from home. Try adjusting to a new mindset, or challenge yourself to distract your mind. In order to do so, you may want to look at mindfulness practice or try exercising more often.
Check in with colleagues
Working from home can be isolating to say the least. To prevent feeling lonely, check in with members of the team via virtual meeting apps, such as Zoom or Teams. Why not discuss with your manager organising a weekly wellness meeting? Talking to peers is a great way to feel included and part of the team. Remember that whether you’re feeling angry, distressed, confused or anxious, there are always people on your team to talk to.

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