Reducing Stress Whilst Working Remotely

There’s no denying that working from home has its advantages; greater flexibility, the ability to wear comfy loungewear and the lack of commuting. From a corporate point of view, it also comes with many benefits such as reduced office costs, increased staff retention and access to a wider talent pool. However, remote working certainly comes with its challenges for workers, and those challenges shouldn’t be underestimated.

Prior to COVID-19, only 5.2% of those in employment regularly worked from home, and less than 30% of those in work had ever worked from home before. However, with social distancing measures being put in place as a response to the coronavirus pandemic, 49.2% of adults in employment are now working from home. Many of us that are now working remotely are not prepared or well practised for doing so; which can make the process challenging. It’s important to remember, and communicate with all employees that we are not simply working from home, we are trying to work at home during a pandemic; there is a difference. The advice in this post will help employers and/or employees to help both themselves and others manage their stress levels better whilst working remotely.

What makes working from home stressful?

Working from home perks aside, what actually makes remote working stressful?

• Distractions – Whilst working from home, there is an abundance of distractions; the dog, kids, chores, TV… Need we go on. Not only are there physical aspects to distract our attention, our mind feels more distracted. When we enter the place of work, our mind is in work-mode, helping to leave our home distractions outside the door. However, when we’re at home, the line between work and life intertwines, in turn making us feel more distracted and less focused on our work.
• Feeling Isolated – One of the best aspects of working in an office environment is having a team around you. People to bounce ideas off, and just have a chat with. When working from home, it can be lonely and it’s normal to feel less creative and stuck in your own head which can make you feel stressed and unproductive.
• Not Feeling As Inspired – Similarly, the lack of team or creative space can leave people feeling less inspired than usual. Those chats in the kitchen whilst making a cuppa have more of a positive impact than we think!
• No Work-Life Balance – It can be difficult to draw the line between work and home time when working from home. Working longer hours, checking emails when you’re supposed to be having family time. Sound familiar? This is stressful for us as it means our minds are constantly on, leaving us with no time to unwind and destress.

With that in mind, what can be done to help to reduce stress whilst working remotely during this time?

Set working hours – and stick to them!

As we briefly discussed above, one of the main things that makes work stressful is the lack of a real work-life balance. It can be difficult to switch off from work, and not check emails outside of work hours. In fact, 22% of telecommuters say that switching off after work is their greatest challenge. At this time, it’s not unusual to scrutinise your productivity in the day, which can leave you tempted to work late into the evening. You need to try and work just as you would in the office, to avoid putting extra stress and pressure on yourself. If you work 9-5 in the office, try and do the same hours at home, to create a routine and make a clear distinction between you-time and work-time.

Stay connected

The lack of social interaction with a team can be difficult; 19% of remote workers say that they struggle with loneliness when working remotely. To help avoid this problem, make sure that you stay in regular contact with your team – from both a work and a personal point of view. Take some time to catch up on projects, what you’ve got planned in for the week and bring up any ideas you’d like to brainstorm. Remember to schedule some time for non-work related conversations too – even something as simple as what you’re having for tea will help. Staying connected helps to alleviate loneliness and add a sense of normality back into your day, something we will all benefit from at the moment.

Remember to take breaks

As well as sticking to regular working hours, remember to take breaks away from your screen when you need them. Take some time out to take your eyes off your screen, refresh your mind and stretch out your body. Remember that as humans we work best by taking short, regular breaks. Taking a 5-10 minute break after an hour of activity usually works well; leaving you feeling refreshed, allowing you to work with greater focus when you get back to it.

Know your limits

Knowing your limits, and when to say no, is important both when working from home and in work. You need to be mindful to overexert yourself or take on more work than you can physically get done, as this will only leave you feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Share tasks with your team, just as you would if you were in the office. If you are a line manager, remember to regularly check in on your team’s workload, and ensure they are not overworking themselves. There are only so many hours in your working day – and that counts for working from home too. Don’t accept too much work that it will run into your personal time.

Get moving

Sitting at a desk can be taxing on our bodies, let alone when you’re in the house you’ve been stuck in for months. Where you can, schedule some time in to get your body moving each day. Whether that’s a walk or jog around your local area, doing some yoga or an online fitness video – do what you’re comfortable with, and what makes you feel best. Exercise is great for taking your mind off the day, so it can be a great habit for making the transition in your mind from work mode to home mode.

If you are looking for high-quality health & wellbeing services for your staff, LycaHealth can help. You can choose from a range of popular packaged corporate wellness services or create your own mix of services for your employees. From employee mental health and wellbeing, to access to corporate GP services, we will work with you to put together a wellness package perfectly tailored to your needs.

If you’re currently suffering from Covid symptoms but you’re unsure of what it is, we’re offering at home Covid-19 tests. Also if you’ve previously suffered, we’re offering anti-body tests to see if you’ve had Covid or if it was an alternative illness.