{"id":31047,"date":"2020-03-27T07:21:46","date_gmt":"2020-03-27T07:21:46","guid":{"rendered":"\/au\/en\/blog\/wfh-mental-health\/"},"modified":"2023-01-13T23:26:54","modified_gmt":"2023-01-13T13:26:54","slug":"wfh-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/au\/en\/blog\/wfh-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"The WFH Survival Guide to Mental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are a ton of (well-documented) benefits to working remotely, from more flexibility to do errands and other tasks, to saving yourself from the stress of a long commute.<\/span><\/p>\n

But working from home can take a toll on your mental health too. <\/span><\/p>\n

Some people might think that you have fewer distractions at home since coworkers can\u2019t just drop by your desk and bug you with the latest cat videos, but missing out on human contact does have a few negative impacts over the long term. <\/span><\/p>\n

For example, did you know that<\/span> loneliness is linked to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and even random pain<\/span><\/a>? And then there\u2019s the temptation to work in your pyjamas or in your bed\u2026 and oh, there are just a <\/span>few <\/span><\/i>more messages to reply to\u2014wait, how is it 8pm already?<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s face it. The #WFH life can be great, but adjusting to it takes time\u2014and can be hard on your mental health. From an increased pressure to work longer hours, to a lack of motivation and loneliness, a whole new set of challenges awaits the growing remote workforces all around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are a few ways to keep yourself healthy, both in body and mind\u2014and live the awesome remote work life that you envisioned.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Create a work-home boundary.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

You\u2019ve heard this one before. Boundaries are healthy. <\/span><\/p>\n

William Becker, a Virginia Tech associate professor of management, <\/span>co-authored a new study<\/span><\/a>, “<\/span>Killing me softly: electronic communications monitoring and employee and significant-other well-being,<\/span><\/i>\u201d in which he found something interesting\u2014and kind of concerning.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFlexible work boundaries’ often turn into ‘work without boundaries,’ compromising an employee’s and their family’s health and well-being.”<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Maybe you\u2019ve experienced this. If not, get a head start and establish that boundary! Here are three easy ways you can do this right now:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Make sure you have a workspace that\u2019s just for work<\/b>. Ideally you\u2019d have an office, but even having a desk in a corner of your apartment that\u2019s designated for work will work.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Have an \u201cI just got off work\u201d activity. <\/b>One good thing to do is take a shower, or go out for a walk\u2014this can help you switch off your work brain. If you\u2019re the type to just answer \u201ca few more emails\u201d even when it\u2019s time to leave, then you might need to force yourself to acknowledge it\u2019s the end of your workday and it\u2019s time to log off.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Change out of your pyjamas!<\/b> We know, it\u2019s tempting to just stay comfy in the morning. But this is one of the few important habits that you\u2019ll instinctively recognize as a sign that it\u2019s time to get into \u201cwork\u201d mode and do stuff.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    2. Use a meditation app. <\/strong><\/h2>\n

    No longer just a fluffy activity for hippies, meditation has been proven to improve mental health, by <\/span>decreasing anxiety<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>mental stress<\/span><\/a>\u2014oh and it <\/span>helps you sleep better<\/span><\/a> too.<\/span><\/p>\n

    If you\u2019ve never done it before, not to worry. It\u2019s easy to get into, and there are a <\/span>ton <\/span><\/i>of meditation apps out there. Typically, they\u2019re free\u2014and unlike other products, the free options here are more than sufficient if you just want to get into meditation and try it out. <\/span><\/p>\n

    (If you want specific guided meditations, then you might have to pay.) <\/span><\/p>\n

    Headspace, Calm, and Tide are probably some of the most popular meditation apps. Here\u2019s a quick look at how Headspace works:<\/span><\/p>\n