Let’s face it — working from home isn’t always a perk when we’re still in the middle of a pandemic and a nationwide lockdown. Swipe to see what you can do during these difficult times!
First, recognize and acknowledge if something is wrong
Identify the symptoms of stress. Are you feeling more irritated or tired than usual? Is it more challenging to sleep or concentrate?
Consider other factors that can add stress also. Do you have other family members to take care of? Do you have to go to the office and risk being exposed to the virus?
Awareness is always key when it comes to dealing with these issues! Only then can you start managing the stress!
Communicate and support one another.
Talk with workmates! Let them know how the pandemic may be affecting you and work on creating solutions together. Create safe spaces to freely talk about these concerns and know that you’re not alone.
Reach out to others also and check up on your own friends, co-workers, and family members. Look for ways to support each other through these difficult times!
Increase your sense of control.
Identify what’s within your control and what factors are beyond your control.
Recreate your “commute” by spending time before work enjoying your breakfast or doing a few minutes of meditation to slowly ease your mind that work is about to start.
Have a “switching off” routine also to avoid the negative effects of stress. Take short breaks and honor working within your work hours.
Use time and priority management tools.
If you find yourself getting stressed with balancing many things, you can look for new ways to prioritize and organize your tasks!
There are many tools you can use — try the Eisenhower matrix, Pomodoro technique, Time Blocking, and many more.
In fact, just writing down everything you have to do at the start of the day is enough to make you feel less overwhelmed (yup, research supports this claim!).
Establish your own coping mechanisms.
Each person reacts to stress and anxiety in different ways. Find out what works for you so whenever you feel overwhelmed, you know how to handle them.
You can practice deep breathing exercises, set aside time for meditation, exercise, do mindfulness techniques, or spend time with hobbies you enjoy doing.
Times are hard, but let’s never forget to take care of our mental and emotional states!
What else works for you to lessen stress and burnout? Let us know in the comments!
References Used:
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/mental-health-non-healthcare.html
www.apa.org/topics/healthy-workplaces/work-stress
www.managers.org.uk/knowledge-and-insights/article/how-to-manage-work-related-insecurity-and-anxiety/
techbeacon.com/enterprise-it/remote-work-burnout-10-ways-avoid-it-your-tech-team