Does Working from Home Really Work for you?

Does Working from Home Really Work for You?

By: Lyndsey Walthall

            I want to preface this by saying working from home is NOT one size fits all. For instance, my brother prefers it. I do not. Granted, my company wasn’t remote as long as many other companies have been, but the time we worked from home was… interesting. I like people. I like going somewhere every day and getting stuff done. So for me personally, working from home wasn’t preferable.

Our personal preferences aside, what have the endless months of calling our homes our offices done to our mental health? Well, according to a study conducted by BMC Public Health, those unexpectedly forced to work from home due to the pandemic have experienced, “greater emotional exhaustion and cognitive stress.” That doesn’t sound good. And it’s not. Of course, what happened is no one’s fault, and it’s certainly not the reality any of us want to be living right now. So what can we do? Is it possible to protect our mental health AND keep working from home?

Thankfully, yes! Easily avoid burnout by establishing (and sticking to) a routine. Wake up at the same time every morning, eat breakfast, get dressed, get to work. Our brains appreciate a sense of order. Don’t forget to move (we’ve talked about the importance of movement on the blog before) and duck outside for fresh air. With more and more people getting vaccinated and restrictions (slowly but surely) lifting, grabbing fresh air between meetings or maybe even at your favorite coffee shop down the street is getting easier. And stay connected! Just because you’re not physically in the same place as your colleagues doesn’t discount them as your colleagues. Reach out, inquire about their lives. Chances are, they’ll really appreciate it—and so will your own mental well-being!