Remote working & wellbeing
7 easy steps for a healthy balance

 

So, what can you do to look after your wellbeing when working from home? How can you create healthy boundaries between your work and personal lives, stay mentally and physically healthy whilst still being a productive and effective worker?
 

Humans are creatures of habit, so a regular schedule is important – set one, and stick to it. If you are new to home working, try to adhere to your normal office routine as much as possible.

Get up, get dressed and ‘arrive’ at your desk 5 to 10 minutes early to go through emails and create your daily task list. Then, when the working day is done, log off and focus instead on your personal activities to avoid burnout.
 

Even if you aren’t lucky enough to have a study space or spare bedroom with a door, you can still create a work ‘zone’.

Keep it free from clutter and away from household paraphernalia – this will help ensure you are not distracted by children or chores when you are working. Try to only work when you are in this space, creating a physical and mental boundary between your work and your personal life.
 

Communication really is the key to not feeling isolated or alone.

Work out how you would like to communicate with colleagues, try not to have too many lines of communication open, as this can prove distracting, and keep in touch at regular intervals throughout the day.

Whilst most communications should of course be about work, try to begin and end the day with more personal conversations.
 

Wherever possible, communicate with your colleagues via video chats.

Face-to-face conversations help you feel more connected and are typically more engaging than conference calls. There are a wealth of technologies available to help facilitate this.

Just remember to check you’re dressed appropriately and your backdrop to ensure you’re comfortable with what your co-workers will see on their screens.
 

Like any working environment, it is important to take the occasional break to let your brain and body relax. Take a 10-minute walk, make some lunch or catch up with a friend over the phone. Short breaks will help give you the ability to refocus on your work tasks – ultimately supporting both your productivity and mental health.
 

Eat well, sleep well and exercise well – these are the three cornerstones of good physical health, and they should not be ignored just because you are working at home.

There are plenty of at home exercise tutorials online which cover the full range of ability levels – from the fittest amongst us to the athletically challenged – and serve as a great way to break up the day.

Furthermore, don’t skip lunch and don’t compromise your sleep.
 

It’s very rewarding to end your day by reflecting on what you’ve achieved. Recalling these success and highlights on a daily basis will help you maintain a positive outlook on your work. It can be difficult to adjust to working from home. However, if you can take some proactive steps to look after your wellbeing, you can keep your morale high and continue being productive at work.