Staying healthy while working remotely
The onset of COVID-19 Pandemic brought about a lot of lifestyle changes that affected the entire world with most of these adjustments still lingering and being felt today. Working and studying had never been the same and it gave rise to more remote workplaces as things quickly adjusted for better online maneuver.
Remaining indoors at all times possible, became the priority for most mundane and routinely activities – Working, playing and simply living at home became so entangled that even employers have became familiar with the ordeal themselves.
As we earnestly work through the daily grind and work even at the comfort of our homes, we still shouldn’t be forgetting about our mental and emotional health. Some people are still adapting from transitioning to these new circumstances after all, and that’s why we’re here to help by giving you some tips to better manage your work-life balance under these new working conditions.
Assign an exclusive workspace – Appropriately preparing for a remote work arrangement is the best way to start things towards a much more productive working performance. Having a designated and appropriate workspace reduces the distractions that you could encounter while working at the comfort of your home. It’s hard not to be too complacent when you’re at snuggly at home after all. Your working space doesn’t have to be extravagant and expensive as well; We’re aiming for efficiency and productivity here.
Discipline and work-life balance – Another important aspect to consider is establishing a work-life balance and tempering the required discipline to follow it at all times. Working remotely and at the comfort of our homes has its perks. However, one can quickly get lost through the thin line between work life and personal life by doing so and this can have implications with our mental and physical health. It is important that we’re able to set a clear boundary between the two and having the discipline to follow through it. Avoid spending time checking e-mails and other work-related things when your work hours are over. Likewise, you must also strive to maintain focus during work schedules and adhere to it.
Working with the elderly our younger family members – Sometimes, we cannot avoid circumstances when we also have to look after someone else during our work schedules when working at home or remotely, especially if we have children or older family members that require assistance and taking care of. On such cases, you can consider having another older child to help you look after the younger ones. Not only that you’re teaching them the fundamentals of being responsible but it helps you manage work and meetings better. You could also try opening up the situation to your immediate supervisor and negotiate for a modified or flexible working schedule.
Maintaining communication with family and partners – Getting caught up in a remote work setup might come as sudden for your partner or family and this might cause some problems as well like daily-life adjustments that could potentially affect intimate life as well. The first few weeks or months of “settling in” with the new lifestyle could also cause people, or you, to neglect these aspects easily. You are alluded to think of things like “I’m at home anyway.” Or similar mentality simply because of the fact that you ARE at home while working. This is a common trap that could compromise communication and understanding between your partner and family. As previously mentioned, having a clear boundary between your work and personal life is the key here.
Self-care and eating healthy – Whether if you’re alone or not, you should still not neglect your physical and mental well-being. The previous tips have already covered most of the aspects that could get compromised involving emotional well-being but staying physically fit is still an entirely different matter. Always remember that a healthy body equates to a sound mind. Skipping meals is just because you’re still at home or “losing time” preparing for a proper meal while rushing through work is a terrible idea. Likewise, as obvious as it sounds, having enough sleep is also another thing. Working at home can even cause insomnia or bad sleeping habits if left unchecked. Spending a few minutes of stretching in-between work breaks and standing up from your desk every once in a while, does wonders too.
Treat yourself for a job well done
Managed to get your priorities in check and organizing everything even after a long day of work? Don’t forget to treat yourself for a job well done too! Studies show that this also helps in keeping your mental and emotional health up and in shape. And hopefully, this article helped you achieve just that.
