How To Support Your Mental Health While Working From Home

It’s important to be yourself. Whether it’s online or in-person, bringing your full self into work is a good mindset to have. Under the current circumstances, many organisations have given their employees the freedom to work from home.

As humans, we yearn for human interaction. Therefore, working from home can sometimes make us feel isolated and closed off from the world. Here are a few ways to support your mental health.

Carry on with your normal morning routine

Wake up

Seeing as you’re not commuting to work, you now have extra time on your hands. Aim to wake up around the same time. This allows you to maintain your internal clock and preserve your sleeping pattern. Waking up at a reasonable time will keep you refreshed and make it easier to concentrate throughout the day.

Get ready

Carry on with your morning routine – shower, dressed, breakfast. Putting on clothes that you would normally wear in the office will set you up with the mindset that you’re at work.

Set up your workspace

Consider setting up in an area that’s far from your sleeping area, allowing you to get into the zone when working and an easy switch off when you want to rest.

Get connected

Adjust how you work

Keep open communication with your colleagues. Rather than emailing, why not use video calls? Microsoft Teams allows you to – share attachments, video calls, voice calls, share screens and have group chats.

Virtual meetings

If you usually go for lunch with your colleagues or participate in an activity together, why not do it over the phone or FaceTime? Enjoy your lunch in the comfort of your own home, while talking to your friends. Share photo updates or even get apps like House Party that allow you to video chat and play games in groups.

Share your workspace

Give your colleagues a tour of your workspace and even show off your pets.

Get support

Keep in touch with friends and family. Find what works for you – keeping active, learning a new skill, don’t overwork, reduce the use of caffeine and alcohol and don’t bottle up your feelings.

Don’t allow yourself to get to a stage where you feel isolated, support is out there.

Talk to HR or call a helpline.

Samaritans offer free, confidential support 24 hours a day on 116 123.