Maintaining positive mental health while working from home and self-isolating

Inspired Energy

Many of us are working from home due to the coronavirus outbreak – and it’s important that we all follow the advice on social-distancing, in order to protect our physical health and the health of others.  However, this level of isolation can come at a cost to our mental health.

We are living unprecedented times where nobody quite knows what will happen next and depending on your situation, you might have already had to adjust your day to day life. Uncertainty is scary. That’s why it’s important to quickly establish new routines.

Not having an office to show up to each morning can cause feelings of isolation and disconnection as you miss out on your usual daily social interaction with your colleagues.

If you are not used to working from home, you might find it difficult to switch off and you might be cramming in work at times when you would usually be unwinding. This can lead to feelings of guilt, stress, anxiety and you risk burning yourself out.

Here are some tips on how to look after your mental health while working from home:

• Set up a dedicated work zone you can walk away from at the end of the day.
• Set up a schedule for your work, break, lunch and rest times and stick to it.
• Make sure to stay in contact with your colleagues/manager to maintain interactions with them but to also help stay on top of your tasks.
• Practise self-care: exercise, make sure to have enough sleep, pay attention to your diet, keep up with your hobbies and make sure to stay in touch with your family and friends even if not able to meet up with them in person.

To find out more about Inspired Energy, visit: www.inspired-referral.co.uk