How to Manage Work-from-Home Stress

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Remote working has its perks, but a lot of people are feeling isolated right now. Here are four ways to manage work-from-home stress.

With UK lockdown expected to extend up to another three weeks, managing and supporting mental health for workers has never been more crucial than ever before.

As the UK experienced a sudden rise in remote work, self-isolation and health-related anxiety created a general sense of unease for many people and intensified existing mental health issues for many more.

A recent YouGov survey highlighted how the outbreak has impacted the overall mood in the UK, with 48% of Brits feeling stressed and 42% feel frustrated. One in three Britons feels unprepared, with 62% of adults saying they feel anxious or worried.

This number is much higher in the younger age group, with 80% of those under 25 saying existing mental health issues have gotten worse since the outbreak began.

Working remotely has its perks, but a lot of people are feeling isolated right now. According to a study by Vodafone, 41% of office workers say they miss the daily laughter and banter that working in an office provides.

In these turbulent times, social connection is vital to our well-being. Without the ability to go out and socialize in the way we usually would, we have to be more creative and intentional in our connection with others during this unprecedented lockdown.

In some ways, the enforcement of rules around movement has caused us to slow down. This actually gives us the chance to connect on a deeper level.

Four Ways to Manage Work-from-Home Stress

Get a Better Night’s Sleep

Around 22% of Brits already suffer from insomnia, but stress and anxiety around COVID-19 have more people feeling sleep-deprived.

Some of the best ways to create a better sleep pattern include reducing caffeine intake, turning off screens, going to bed and getting up at the same time every day, and ensuring our bedrooms are as dark as possible.

Take a Digital Detox

With little control over the situation and our social feeds jam-packed with COVID-19 related news and uncertainty, now is a good time to limit the amount of media we consume by taking a digital detox.

The goal is to ensure you are informed enough to make decisions, but not so overloaded with news headlines that it induces anxiety.

A good idea is to choose a few authoritative resources and check in with them daily while muting channels that disrupt your sense of wellbeing or using a tool to manage screen time.

Be Strict Around Work/Life Balance

It’s important to schedule the day into bite sized chunks and work in waves. Honour your ultradian rhythms which run between 60 to 90 minutes. Then take a 15 minute break to disconnect.

By working in waves, we become energized and find it easy to switch off from work when the end of the days comes. If we can’t disconnect from work, we face the real possibility of burnout and making mistakes.

I have my clients create a digital sunset, where they tidy their workspace ready for the following day and put everything work-related in that space.

They visualize shutting down from work, and then walk around the block again, this time leaving work, and returning home.

It’s crucial also to schedule enjoyable things in the evening. Do a Zoom call with family and friends, or partake in hobbies and interests that are not work-related.

Create a Calm Work Space

It’s not always easy to find an ideal space to work from at home. When deciding which space to work from, look for an area that has natural light and is temperate, has fresh air, and minimal distractions.

It is vital that the space be free of clutter, and have comfortable furniture.

 

This piece was written by Sophia Anderson and appeared on Her Agenda.

Image via Briana Morrison on Stocksy