Prior to 2020, very few to none found themselves in a work-from-home setup. But when COVID-19 wreaked havoc on the world, companies had no choice but to adopt to the situation and working from home was the only option. The digital space turned out to be our savior. Fast forward to the post-pandemic present, working from home and hybrid arrangements, where a number of days are spent in the office and the remaining are work from home, are the new normal.

But just like any situation or scenario, working from home has its challenges, the top ones being mental health issues and burnout. After embracing working from home for four years now, I’ve found ways to protect my mental health and create an environment at home and routine that not only boosts my productivity, but also safeguards work-life balance and my mental wellness. If you’re struggling to find peace with your work-from-home setup, I hope this helps.

 

Establish Your Work Space at Home

Admittedly, the adjustment phase during the first few months of working from home left me feeling disoriented. I felt distracted; I lacked focus. I moved from one area to another, from the kitchen to the living area, and even the bedroom, trying to find a conducive area to work.

After a few months, I bought a desk and chair and moved some furniture around to accommodate my new work space. Gradually, I was able to focus better and my productivity level shot up not long after. The reason why I wasn’t seeing improvement in my focus as I worked around the house was because my mind associated the other spaces at home with lounging, eating, and relaxing. As soon as I set aside a dedicated area for work and stayed there only when it was time to work, the change was evident. Establishing a specific area for work will create the necessary association your subconscious needs to get you in the zone.

 

Set Clear Time Boundaries

During the beginning of the pandemic, days became longer since working at home blurred the work-time structure. Without having to clock in and out or physically leave the office, it felt necessary to keep working past the usual hours to get more done. In due time, this led to burnout and eventually took a toll on my mental health.

One day, I decided to apply the time blocking method which entails setting specific ‘time blocks’ for daily tasks and honoring them. This helped me enforce clear time boundaries for work and served as a sustainable foundation for all my days. I was no longer overworking myself unnecessarily. Creating clear boundaries and building the architecture of how you spend your working time at home will allow you to maintain healthy work hours.

 

Meet With Colleagues or Friends Periodically

From having people around you constantly, to being alone at home daily, working from home leaves you bereft of social connections. Having genuine, face-to-face human interactions is crucial for mental health and the lack of which can lead to feelings of loneliness and depression. On difficult days, these connections eased the stress and tension at work.

Realizing the value of socializing, I made the effort to meet up with colleagues and friends. Thankfully, the emergence of co-working spaces and cafés with internet made it possible to work with others once in a while, restoring the human interaction the home setup lacks. Once I started to spend time with others periodically, I found myself with better headspace. Keeping valuable social circles intact will enhance your overall disposition in the long run.

 

Incorporate Physical Activity Into Your Routine

Exercising has always been a known natural contributor to mental wellness. Hence, physical activity in the form of home workouts became extra popular during the height of the quarantine period. Personally, working out helped me cope with the uncertainty of the times then and served as my stress reliever.

But aside from reducing stress and anxiety, staying active positively impacts energy and mood levels. Maintaining my regular workout routine to this day has been one of the pillars of my emotional well-being while working from home. And with studios back open, attending in-person workouts turned out to be the reprieve I needed after a long day of work at home. Finding and sticking to a workout that you enjoy will balance out the monotony of the daily grind at home.

 

The work-from-home life isn’t without its challenges and struggles. Taking a proactive approach and being intentional about your mental health while working at home is a necessity for sustained well-being and productivity. It might take time and patience before you find your balance, but by creating a conducive dedicated work area at home, establishing boundaries and routines, maintaining physical health, and fostering social connections, in time, you will better navigate through the challenges of working from home and thrive both professionally and personally.