Working from home? Top 5 World Mental Health Day tips for working from home
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With World Mental Health Day coming up on Saturday, the team at www.hillarys.co.uk have pulled together their top tips for looking at your mental health if you find yourself once again – or still – working from home.
1. Group calls
We advise regular calls with your colleagues to catch up about how your evening has gone and what you’ll be working on throughout the day. When you’re in the office these conversations are natural and regular and can be one of the things you miss when working from home. Having that communication will make you feel less isolated and part of a team despite working remotely.
2. Regular breaks
Sometimes when working from home you can feel pressured into always being available and might skip breaks or lunch so that people don’t think you’re slacking off. We recommend scheduling regular breaks so that you can recuperate. Taking a walk, reading for an hour, or taking part in another type of hobby will make you feel rejuvenated and ready to go back to work!
3. Create a morning routine
One luxury of working from home is being able to roll out of bed and go straight to your desk. However, after long periods of time this can mean you miss out on looking after yourself in small ways. In the morning take the time to relax, shower, and do all the things you usually would before starting work. Not only does this mean your mind will be ready to start the day it also means you still have a sense of normality.
4. Leave the house
It is important to get outside and not stay cooped up indoors. Contrary to popular belief you can go for a walk without a pet so don’t let that stop you! Keeping your body active, fresh air and new scenery can help your mind a lot. However, it is important to follow the government guidelines around Covid-19 and to remember that isolation, quarantine and social distancing are all different things. For instance, you can still go for walks and visit the outdoors when social distancing.
5. Have a designated working space
Having a designated work space is imperative to being able to separate work from home life. By having an area where you go to work it means you can properly make sure you are in the mind-set to get your work done and then at the end of the day switch off completely. If you’re working long hours make sure you have a supportive chair, a place to rest your computer and correct lighting which will all help you during the day.
