The past couple of years have been tough for everyone. Whether you were forced to start working from home or decided to do so yourself, after a while, you may realise that it is not as bliss as you had envisioned it to be. Manoeuvring your mental health and work efficiency from home may not be easy, but here are some tips to help you maintain productivity and a good mental health even from home!

Structure

A good structure and schedule is important. Schedule your ‘working hours’. The beauty of working from home is that you can tailor these hours to fit your lifestyle and productivity. If you work best at night, then schedule it for then. A good structure and routine is also essential to prevent you from feeling overwhelmed. It helps you to better organise yourself and complete tasks. Also don’t forget to schedule some time off as it can be easy to get carried away with working. You can easily burn out if you don’t remember to take time off to recharge.

Break time is important

Just like working in an office, you need to take breaks as well. Working from home can feel stagnant and even boring. There are wellness practices that you can easily include in your day to day that can increase your wellbeing. Some physical exercise is never a bad idea! Some yoga or small stretches can help alleviate stress. Go for walks and have a change of scenery. It’s okay to take a break from your computer and enjoy the outdoors. Take time to cook something nice for yourself. Listen to your favourite music. Use aromatherapy or your favourite scents to keep you calm. There are loads of easy wellness practices that you can incorporate in your daily routine, so find the ones that work best for you and embrace them!

Work-life balance

One of the biggest adjustments, when working from home, is that you no longer have a clear separation between your work and your personal home life, and when there isn’t clear boundaries, you may feel stressed and overwhelmed. It’s important that even from home, you try to separate your work life and your home life. If you don’t live alone, talk to them about your working boundaries and what you expect from them. Don’t ever assume that people will just understand without communication. Additionally, introduce some physical boundaries as well, such as a designated work space.

Designated work space

Your designated work space is essential in achieving your work-life balance when working from home. Not only does it create a physical boundary for others, but it also allows you to have a physical separation between work and home. Train your brain to get into work mode when you are in this designated space. This space can then help you stay productive and reduce distractions from your home life.

Remember to take care of yourself

It’s very easy to get lost in working. When you are really motivated to get to your goal, you may find yourself frustrated at your pace or at what you have not accomplished. Remember that everyone is going at their own pace and your life journey is different to others. Work is a priority but your wellbeing is of the utmost importance, so don’t force yourself to work all the time and prioritise taking care of yourself. When you are feeling good and at peace, you will do that you will work better and more efficiently anyways!