We’re well into our second year of working from home and lines have slowly and surely blurred about where work ends and where chores begin. The laptop’s our companion and coffee is our saviour, while the comfy pyjamas have finally been used to their full potential.
What started out as a temporary measure at the beginning of 2020 is now a way of life in its own right. On the bright side, the kitchen is closer than ever and you can always find a switch between relaxing on the bed and the work desk.
However, we weren’t meant to live like this. We need a schedule, we need to travel and we need to do other activities by stepping out of our homes. The pandemic restricts so much of our ability to live normally, or at least the normal that we once knew.
It’s also taken a toll on our mental health. Living in the anxiety of an uncertain future can leave you fearful and scarred in many ways. The pandemic not only created a health crisis but also one with the economy leaving our financial security in the doldrums. And that’s exactly why the mental health of millennial parents is on the decline.
But it’s never too late to regroup yourself and focus on your mental health. While uncertainty may leave a lot to desire, there’s still hope that we will make the best of the future that comes our way. And with hope in our hearts, here are five tips for mental health in the pandemic turned endemic that Millenials should follow.
How To Take Care Of Your Mental Health When Working From Home?
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Planning is your best friend
While working from home gives you a lot of liberty on how you choose to work, the only real way you can get things done is by planning it all out. Since you’re working from home, have the liberty to choose when to work.
It’s important to set a schedule and not work all the time. Create a timetable and maintain the discipline to finish work in the stipulated time. Try to choose the time when you know you’re at your best and most productive with few distractions. You can then work on the most challenging tasks during this time of the day.
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Stay social and connected with others
It’s easy to get distracted by work at home and minimise interactions with other people, be it virtual or in person. The pandemic has taught us that human interactions are important and you need to be there when they need you. Be a support system for your colleagues, family members and friends, and it will help ease the boredom of working alone.
It will boost your energy as well and help improve your productivity. Take small breaks from your desk and catch up with your fellow family members or friends. Think of it as an alternative to the water cooler break that you once took in the office. It will help shake off some of that stress.
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Rest, eat, rinse, repeat
There’s nothing that can replace the four pillars of good health. So remember to get adequate rest and sleep to maximise your mental and physical productivity. Working can exhaust all your energy and mental focus.
It helps to keep the same working hours that you would at the office. This brings us back to planning your day so you can fix a routine and allocate time for rest, eating, sleep and refreshments – mental and physical.
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Find your corner in the house
Try and create a workroom or desk at home that’s dedicated to your work life. The space needs to be separate from the rest of the house and needs to have a barrier – invisible or otherwise – that tells other members of the household to ‘Keep Out’ when you are working.
It’s your corner that allows you to focus and work at your own pace. It also tells your family members that you do not want disturbance once you’re in that corner for work or even a personal break.
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Take short breaks
The best thing about working from home for millennials is the fact you can actually do more things when not working in one corner. Plan it out by adding quick breaks to your schedule. Take a break to relax between meetings or play a video game. You can also inculcate some exercise between work hours.
As a thumb rule, listen to some music or catch on a show when you take a break for food or a snack. This helps you disconnect completely from work for those 20 odd minutes, which will help you recharge your energy and get back at things with new vigour.
Despite all this, if you still feel you are not in the best shape mentally, there’s no harm in speaking to a professional. Getting mental health is a sign of maturity since you are reaching out for help. That’s always a great thing.