Published: 01/04/2020
A healthy work-life balance should be adopted now more than ever, so we have collated some tips which will help with home working.- Don’t over expose yourself to negative news! Hearing about the negative impact of the virus on a constant loop in the background will only lead to increased anxiety. Turn off news notifications and try to limit this to an update once/twice a day only (just enough to keep you informed). Make sure you only read updates from trusted sources to avoid misinformation, as there’s lots of speculative articles and wrong advice circling the internet.
- At the end of the day try to ‘clear your mind’ – write your worries/thoughts down in a journal, or speak to someone to share these. Don’t bottle up your anxieties.
- Focus on getting a good night’s sleep!
- Take regular breaks and get some fresh air if you can (always keep in line with the lockdown and social distancing regulations).
- Create some form of structure to your day. You need to separate your home/working life and know what you will need to get done. Try to stick to a similar routine as before (getting up at the same time, going to bed at the same time) as this will also help you when normality resumes.
- Ensure you have a clear, clutter-free work space, away from any distractions where possible.
- Take regular short breaks making sure you are getting time away from your computer screen
- Make sure you take a break for lunch and ensure you are finding time to eat enough
- Support your colleagues. Check in with your colleagues regularly and offer to be an arm of support for those you may need it, especially if you have not heard from someone in a while. Swap between video calls and audio calls, send each other quick messages throughout the day, and don’t forget about those colleagues if any, who are furloughed.
- At the end of the working day try to distract yourself with things that you enjoy, or do something new that you have been meaning to do for ages – a sense of achievement will help you to stay positive.
- Get some exercise where you can, even if it’s just 20-minutes a day
The links below have some great information about ways that you can support your mental health and boost your well-being whilst being confined to your home.
https://mentalhealth-uk.org/blog/6-ways-to-boost-your-wellbeing-while-staying-indoors/
https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-staying-at-home-tips/