The current reality of self-isolation resulting from the pandemic has significantly influenced our daily activities, and now, some people are shifting to working from home. While working from home may not appear difficult, it can be if you do not effectively handle your job, daily activities, and managing your emotions.
Combining home and work commitments with no clear border in between can be very draining. Moreover, it can be very stressful if there are no boundaries, especially when you’re a parent. However, you do not need to worry; these methods can help you mitigate it.
Make A To-Do List
Start by looking past the time you spend working on planning your routine for optimal efficiency during office hours. It would be best if you started planning your daily practices from the minute you get up in the morning until it’s time to go to bed again.
The to-do list should include your tasks for work and home. It may appear daunting, but you’ll have to choose which projects you have listed may be postponed, hand it to someone else, or discard it. Reducing the amount of work you have to perform will help you feel less stressed.
Keep Moving and Being Active
Moving around is an excellent stress reliever. You should integrate brief movement intervals into your workday, perhaps every hour. Tension and irritation can be alleviated with at least five minutes of activity. You can do practically anything you want, from walking a few rounds around your house, a light stroll in your garden, or even accomplishing a 10-minute yoga practice – as long as you’re moving.
Doing light movements will also help you relax from the hustle and bustle of juggling between work and home. It can also help to prevent eye strain, migraines and soreness by requiring you to take a break from your laptop at least once or twice a day.
Separate Work and Life Activities
It may seem not easy to put a boundary between your job and life activities, but it’s even vital to do it now. Boundaries are considered the walls that separate our work and home routines. Make a distinction between work-related and non-work-related activities.
Have a designated work environment free of interruptions, recreational activities, and domestic obligations as much as feasible. The separation of areas allows you to concentrate on an effective workday while also allowing you to “escape” the workplace when necessary.
Don’t Put Too Much Pressure on Yourself
Attempting to make up the fact that you are working from home is the quickest way to become stressed. It underscores the need of keeping a to-do list to be productive and task oriented. While having a to-do list is necessary, avoid assigning yourself more work than you can manage. It is because, in an attempt to fulfill them, you may become anxious or work extra hours. Also, make sure to take breaks in between, perhaps enjoy some time with your loved ones, and have your me-time since you are at home.
Pamper Yourself After Working Hours
After working hours, you might consider continuing with your housework that has been waiting for you to get it done with finally. However, it’s critical to emphasis self-care when working from home. It may encourage you to remain connected to yourself and better grasp what you require regarding work-life balance.Â
Allocate your time to learn how to care for yourself and satisfy your requirements properly. Try having a relaxing hot bath with a water heater to calm your nerves or have a nice big meal before going straight to your chores.
Stay On the Positive Side
Concentrating on the bad or what will happen is among the primary culprits of work-related stress. The easiest way to relieve stress is to focus on the things going well and how far you have come. Having fun and laughing also reduce stress hormones like cortisol, epinephrine which produce good hormones, making them a natural antidepressant.
Calm down and learn to have control over your pace. You can try doing things that help you feel at ease and pleased or the things that spark joy for you. It can be anything, from Face Time-ing with your old friends or family to watching some of your favorite movies.
Eat on Time and Have a Good Night Sleep
Not having good food in your system will cause your body to become stressed. It’s crucial to eat well and on time to restore equilibrium and lower any pressure. Quality sleep can also assist you to go through the day by rejuvenating your system and reducing the impacts of stress throughout your work-from-home days. No matter how busy you are, do not skip your mealtime and have a good quality of rest during the night.
