Before 2020 I had always worked in an office, commuting daily from home to work. Then Covid came along, changing our whole way of life; I began remote working and opened my own business; homeworking became the norm. I would be lying if I said there have never been days spent in my PJ’s at my desk because I have. Days when I have been busy and did not need to leave the house and spent the entire day in my pyjamas. But try not to do it anymore because it affects my mental health and well being. There are many benefits of homeworking, no daily commute, more flexibility with your hours of work, but sometimes working from home can also be detrimental to your mental health. It can be stressful, challenging and sometimes a lonely place. So I put together these simple tips for working from home to help you become more productive while considering your health and wellbeing. Each comes from my experiences and challenges over the last year of being at home and working.
1. Start the workday by getting dressed
Yes, I know sitting in your pyjamas sounds great, but it soon affects your mood, and you begin to feel frumpy. Starting your day with a shower and putting some fresh clothes on lifts your mood and sets you for the day. Even if you only put on a pair of joggers and jumper. You are still creating a morning routine that is great for your mental health and wellbeing.
2. Remember to take breaks from work
3. Plan your workday
4. The housework can wait
5. Take time to make contact with the outside world
Working at home can be a lonely place! You can go days without any contact with the outside world. A quiet workspace can be relaxing but also very isolated. When the only person you have spoken to is your dog, you begin missing human interaction. As someone who has struggled with my mental health, I can find this part of working from home hard. I sometimes feel withdrawn from the outside world. But it doesn’t have to be like that! You can find groups in the social media world where you can interact and learn from like-minded people. Or I ring a colleague and spend a little time catching up. Just a few minutes a day chatting can make a world of difference to your wellbeing.
Following these five simple steps daily, my life working at home has become much more productive and healthy, and yours could be too.
