If you work remotely, these 7 mental health tips for working from home will help you to maintain a better work-life balance!
Have you been working from home for the past couple of years? Many of us are back to work on a hybrid schedule, and some of us will never step foot in an office again with our new fully remote jobs. While working from home has some great benefits, it also can be very challenging. So today, we’re talking about why it’s important to set boundaries and take breaks for your mental health.
This post is all about the mental health tips for working from home that you can start implementing today for better balance.
7 Mental Health Tips to Keep You SANE while Working from Home
1. Start your Day off with a Walk
Did you commute to your job before your work from home days? Some of us drove cars while others took public transportation and walked a couple of blocks to work. My favorite way to jump-start my workday is to go for a 15-20 minute walk every morning. This way I get some fresh air and quiet time in BEFORE I dive into my emails. Instead of rolling out of bed and straight to your desk tomorrow (or worse, just sitting in bed with your laptop), grab a pair of sneakers and go for a quick walk!
2. Take Breaks
OK, now there is a fine line between taking breaks and being distracted all day long. Plan your breaks out ahead of time so you have solid work time that is uninterrupted. I find that I work best when I am on a schedule that includes food and bathroom breaks. I’m not saying that you need to plan out all of your bathroom breaks, but you should plan to take an hour of lunch every day in a different room away from your work.
3. Sign Off at the End of the Day
I find that my boyfriend has the HARDEST time with this one because his desk is in our open layout kitchen/living room. However, we both set boundaries around our work. This might mean closing out the apps we use for work so that notifications can’t come through or completely shutting down the computer. It’s too easy to answer an email at 11 pm when you’re in bed about to watch a show because you see the notification. Most of the time it’s not an emergency, so give yourself the space and grace to turn off from work for the day.
4. Get a Work-Out In Mid-Day
I am a big “I work out after work” kind of girl since let’s be real, I am NOT a morning person. Working from home changed EVERYTHING for me. I LOVE to schedule a 12:15 date with myself to work out for a half-hour right in the middle of the day. This goes back to point number 2, take breaks! By scheduling this time every day, I make sure I get to work out AND come back to work feeling focused and clear-minded. All of my time before the workout is FOCUS time. It helps me to get everything done more effectively so that I CAN work out at 12:15. I used to do another half-hour workout at 5:15 so that I would get a full hour of exercise each day and also be forced to shut off my work brain at 5 pm. Play around with it and find what works for you! Maybe you like to work out in the morning and then go for a walk at lunch instead!
Related Post: Fitness Ideas that you’ll LOVE to help break up your day
5. Keep a Dedicated Work Space
I know it’s easy to feel like a digital nomad with the wanderlust of having a laptop and being able to work from anywhere. Let me tell you, working from the couch is harder than it looks. It’s tempting to take a nap and often you need a true desk setup to get anything productive done. I always recommend keeping your desk OUT of your bedroom. Your bedroom is for rest and maybe even a more intimate space for you and your partner. The second you mix work with this restful space, you’re going to find that you may not be sleeping as well. It’s important to keep those boundaries separate!
6. Set Your Desk Space Up Like a Pro
I personally cannot work in chaos. Everything around me must be clean and clear so that I can focus on my work. Try to work on a desk that has just enough space so that you don’t feel cramped, but not too much space that you start piling stuff all over it. If you currently work on a tiny laptop that your company assigned to you – get a bigger monitor! Nobody wants to be squinting and hunched over a little screen all day. I use a MacBook and found that this 24” HP Monitor was affordable and actually had a pretty good color match from Mac – PC (if you work with color for your job, you understand my pain). After I pulled in the second monitor, I realized that I was still hunching a bit because my screen was so low. I ordered this monitor platform and it’s the perfect added height!
7. Create Routines
As hard as it can be sometimes, it’s important to set routines around your working hours. Make sure you get up at the same time every morning so that you feel awake and ready to take on the day. Start with some morning gratitude and a breakfast shake or coffee while you read your emails. Whatever you like to do to kick off your day to feel good, just do it! The only caveat is to make sure you do the same routine each day. It will make your life easier and you will enjoy your days so much more!
This post was all about how to keep sane with these mental health tips while working from home!
After buzzing through this article, I hope you take away some mental health tips for working from home. It can be easy to get stuck in a rut, so it’s important to change it up throughout the day. And most importantly, keep a good workspace and set boundaries around your working hours. My biggest tip if you are struggling, is to get outside and take a quick ten-minute walk. It’s enough to clear the work fog, move your body, and get those creative juices flowing! Let me know some of your favorite work from home tips for your mental health, I always love to hear what you’re doing that is helpful too!
