Working from home and running a business from home is much more common now than it was a decade ago. The COVID-19 pandemic has played an enormous role in transitioning people into work from home roles. Many experts think that specific jobs might never entirely return to normal. For many people, remote work is a very convenient thing, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have its setbacks.
Working from home problems
Whether you’re working from home as an employee or if you’re running your own online business, it’s not always going to be easy. Some people thrive in this environment, while others might struggle with specific problems. Many people wind up feeling more depressed or anxious than usual due to being isolated at home. If you’re used to working with people and you suddenly find yourself alone, then it’s going to take some time to adjust.
If your mental health has been suffering due to working from home, then there are things that you can do to turn things around. Take a look at the following essential tips for improving your mental health. These ideas can make it so that you will feel much better, and you can get more out of your work from home experience when you make these adjustments.
Create a special workspace
Creating a dedicated workspace might not be possible for everyone who works from home, but it’s a good idea that helps you to have the right mindset. Working in your bedroom or your living room can throw you off, and it can make you feel uneasy even when you’re done with work. If you have a small office to work in, then it feels a lot more like you’re getting up and going to work. You might be surprised by how much of an impact a simple change like this can have on your mental health.
Try to maintain set hours
Some work from home employees don’t have to maintain set hours, and if you own your own business, you’ll likely be able to start when you want. It just isn’t right to keep an erratic schedule because this can harm your mental health and your productivity. You’ll feel a lot better about things if you do your best to maintain a consistent schedule. It might even be prudent to try to work a simple 9-5 schedule if that feels the most natural to you.
Socialize with others
Socializing isn’t something that has to go away just because you’re working from home now. You might miss your colleagues at work, and they will miss you, too. This is why it’s good to make an effort to socialize with your friends and co-workers even if you have been separated from them. Technology makes it a lot easier for you to speak to friends, and you can even talk to your co-workers during the workday using communication apps and other types of software.
You can collaborate with your work friends while working from home so long as your employer allows it. If you’re the boss, then it’s good to make an effort to keep your team connected while you’re working from home. Even just video chatting with your friends after work is going to have a positive impact on your mental health. Don’t shut yourself in if you can help it, and know that reaching out to others can help you to turn things around.
Enjoy hobbies that you’re passionate about
Hobbies are great, and you likely have many things that you’re interested in doing in your spare time. Depending on when you’re reading this, certain activities might not be as plausible due to the pandemic or other factors. Even so, there are lots of fun things that you can do at home that will be good for your mental health. You have to recognize what you enjoy doing and what will be positive for you.
Some people might be interested in reading books as a way to unwind while others will want to play video games. You might want to play the guitar or build model kits. Whatever type of hobby you’re into is perfectly fine, and you should try to make time for it if possible. If you can find a safe and satisfying hobby that you can do at home, then you’re going to feel much better about things moving forward.
Talk to a therapist
Talking to a therapist is something that you should consider if you’ve been feeling down due to working from home. When you get thrust into a new situation, it isn’t always easy to adjust to things. Some people feel very isolated and sad due to being in this situation, and you don’t have to try to process this alone. You can reach out to a professional therapist to go over how you’re feeling and what you can do to thrive in a working-from-home role.
You can decide to go out to speak to a therapist at a traditional office location if you’d like. Many are choosing to look into online therapy options like the ones BetterHelp offers these days due to how convenient and reliable they are. Both options are great, and you’ll be able to address any mental health concerns with an expert who cares about your well-being. You’re never alone when you’re struggling with mental health.
Get some exercise
Finally, it would help if you considered what you could do to start getting some exercise at home. If you have enough room to work out in your house, then it’ll be good to start a routine. Exercising can help you to alleviate depression issues, and it makes you feel more positive about life.
Go out to get some sunshine when it’s safe to do so because exercising outside of your home could be especially appealing when you’re working from home all the time. If you can get yourself into the habit of exercising semi-regularly, then it’s going to give you the mental health boost that you have been looking for.
YouTube: Coronavirus – How To Manage Your Mental Health While Working From Home
Photo credit: The feature image has been done by Nicole Wolf. The picture “Woman sitting on sofa beside cat while using laptop” has been done by Ashley Stone. The photo “Stylish woman talking on retro landline phone” was taken by Gabriela Fonseca. The shot “Angel Wings” has been prepared by Design Ecologist.
Source: Gil Press (Forbes) / Sarah Fader (ReGain) / James A. Blumenthal, Patrick J. Smith, Benson M. Hoffman (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
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