5 Wellness tips you need to know if you work from home
Whilst working from home has its merits, it can also result in increased time glued to your desk, heightened stress, and difficulty switching off long after leaving your screen. 36% of Brits work from home at least once a week – a significant chunk of the workforce. But, whilst many are enjoying its perks (no long commute and getting those house chores done before the weekend, for example), many are also struggling to prioritise their wellbeing as work increasingly encroaches on their personal space.
So, how can you regain control of your wellbeing whilst working from home? Keep reading for our 5 top tips.
1. Draw a line between home and work life
It’s hard keeping inspiration and happiness levels high when you’re in the same environment 24/7 – even if said environment is your beautiful home. Albeit a bit of a buzzphrase of late, setting boundaries is more important than ever now that many of us have made the transition to working from home. Healthy boundaries help to draw a metaphorical line between work life and home life – they protect our peace and mental wellbeing, whilst empowering us to perform optimally at work.
Set physical boundaries
The way we design and organise our living spaces has a huge impact on our mental wellbeing. Some physical boundaries to try include:
Creating a designated workspace within your home. Whether that’s a separate room or nook in your kitchen, demarcating a work “zone” helps keep your home and work life separate.
Clearing away work materials from spaces you associate with rest at the end of the day.
Set mental boundaries
Try to distinguish between work and personal time by, yes, physically separating the spaces, if possible, but also by creating habits that help you get in the right frame of mind for each. Some mental boundaries to try whilst working from home include:
Not starting work before your official start time and not working past your finish time.
Not checking emails after a certain time.
Making breakfast and listening to a podcast or music before picking up your phone reinforces that mornings are for you time.
Likewise, lighting a candle once signing off signals that work is done for the day, and it’s time to wind down.
Taking a full lunch break every day. This leads us on to…
2. Take frequent breaks
It can be incredibly tempting, when working from home, to remain glued to your screen all day – not necessarily through desire, but because often when we work from home our days are structured differently to how they would be in an office environment, and to how our colleagues structure their days, too. However, breaks are important for restoring energy, boosting creativity, and reducing feelings of stress – all things that’ll help you to work efficiently. Aim to work in hour or 1.5 hour-long blocks, taking 10 minutes in-between to top up your water glass or have a stretch. Always take a full lunch break, where possible, and try to incorporate the kinds of mini rests you would in an office – for instance, popping to the kitchen for a coffee. There may be days when you are in zoom meeting after zoom meeting. Try, if possible, to take a break away from your computer between meetings - even for a 5-minute walk around the block. It will give your eyes a break from your screen and allow you to clear your head before the next meeting.
3. Create a wellbeing routine
It needn’t be fancy or expensive, but it’s important to have a wellbeing routine in place to ensure you’re not neglecting your physical, mental, or emotional health whilst working from home. Consider all the activities that make you feel your best, and try to work as many of them into your day as possible. Your wellbeing routine could include:
Meditation
Journalling
Movement
Socialising
Hobbies
Breathwork
Specific foods or beverages
Skincare products and techniques
A sleep ritual
Protect your mental wellbeing with these self care tips
4. Connect
Working from home can feel incredibly isolating at times, so try to touch base with others – whether that’s co-workers or loved ones – throughout the day. Socialising can help to boost creativity and happiness, and it’s also said to sharpen your memory and improve cognitive skills, too.
Consider creating a group chat for peers working from home to share inspiration and support, and schedule video meetings with colleagues for some face-to-face communication too.
Read CALM’s super insightful guide to loneliness and social isolation for more top tips on how to stay connected.
5. Schedule appointments… with yourself
All too often we fall into the habit of neglecting our needs to prioritise work. If you struggle to engage in wellbeing activities due to work, try scheduling downtime as you would an important meeting. Commit it to your calendar by blocking out an hour to recharge and, just as you wouldn’t cancel an important meeting with a colleague without good reasoning, refuse to cancel on yourself.
Want to make your home work harder for your health? Here are 7 easy home updates to improve your mental wellbeing.