May is Mental Health Awareness Month. For the past month, the majority of us have been working from home and practicing social-distancing. This new world that we live in has brought a whole host of new challenges, and taking care of your mental health has never been more essential. With schedules out of wack, the inability to take part in most activities, and work life upended, we could all use a check-in with ourselves. Read below for five steps that you can take to improve your mental health while working remotely.
1. Separate Work from Personal Life
The balance between work and personal life is always something to strive for, but when your living room is also the office, it’s crucial. Without commutes or activities going on, it can be too easy to work into the night, wake up earlier, or answer email after dinner. Notify your colleagues about what time you plan to go offline each day. Fully shut down your computer, or move it into a room where you won’t see it after work hours. Try to still take a lunch break, and go for a walk or read. Working remote doesn’t have to mean working more- it just takes a bit more effort to balance.
2. Prioritize Yourself
Whether you’re quarantining solo or have a family to care for, you need to prioritize your wellbeing. Taking care of yourself can mean keeping a routine, exercising most days, spending time outdoors, or setting time aside to indulge in a quarantine hobby, like doing a puzzle. This
article from the Center for Workplace Mental Health outlines steps you can take to support yourself while working remotely. You can also click
here for more tips on how to not get overwhelmed at home, and be successful at work while still taking time for yourself.
