Handling working-from-home stress, during the covid19 pandemic

Working from home can definitely be appealing as there is no dress code, no close supervision, no travel time, and the freedom to decide where you work. Although employees who work from home may experience more of a difficulty, when it comes to setting boundaries between work and personal life.

Work-from-home employees may struggle more with freeing themselves and ending their work day, compared to work in an office setting.

Challenges professionals face, include adapting to new technologies, like audio and video- conferencing.

At home, you have certain comforts that tempt you to indulge in. For instance, if you have a boring interaction with a client, in an office setting you just have to move with it and get on with your workday. But If you work from home, you can actually withdraw and go watch TV or play video games until you feel better.

You may also experience many challenges, if you have children and elders at home. Depending on the age of your kids, you may need to deal with childcare, working around their school schedule and also providing geriatric care for the needy elders.

Another challenge is setting boundaries with people who forget that working from home is still working. Family members, friends, and neighbors may ask you for help or to engage with them during your working hours. You may even experience some frustration on their end if you note that you are unavailable.

You may find that lack of social interactions with colleagues can be demotivating.

You may find yourself less physically active, than you would in an office setting. This can impact your sleep quality and overall mental health. If you're less active during the day, you might not be as tired at night and have trouble falling asleep.

Managing the Stress of Working at Home:

• First recognize that feeling stressed, is not helping your situation and may make things worse.
• Create a daily routine to balance your work and family life.
• Be sure to include time to take care of the needs of others who depend on you, but schedule time for you, to focus exclusively on work.
• Create a dedicated workspace, where you can solely focus on your job.
• Practicing mindfulness will definitely help.
• Reduce Distractions. Make sure to silence your phone and turn off any computer notifications, you may receive that aren't work-related.
• Connect with your management and colleagues.
• Make an effort to connect with supportive individuals in your life.
• Reward yourself for the effort you put in every day. Watch over the improvements and progress you make each day.
• You can try to distract yourself with other activities that interests you like music, chatting with your loved ones, gardening, cooking so on.
• Take time to move around your home, going outside for a quick walk, or doing some stretches during your short breaks.
• Don’t hesitate to take a well-deserved refreshment break for yourself.
• Give positive affirmations to yourself. For example ‘I’m a skillful person, capable of handling any challenging tasks.’
• Get Comfortable Saying ‘No’. During your work hours, you may receive many non-work-related requests. For some people, it may feel very difficult saying ‘No’ and place your needs above others. Know that it is perfectly okay to turn down someone else's requests, if it interferes with your job.
• Eat healthy homemade food and protect Your Sleep.

 Swathi Priya. P

Counselling Psychologist.

www.mindmake-upclinic.com