Covid-19 has challenged the conventional work pattern. As a rescue mechanism, the companies adopted the remote working model. The motive of working from home was to ensure the sound health of humans at large. Though the virtual work model has proven to be a blessing in disguise, it might have questioned mental health. 

Research indicates that 75% of U.S. workers have struggled at work due to anxiety caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and other recent world events. The work from home model has been fruitful in ways that have increased the work-life balance and productivity. But due to the ongoing pandemic, the conditions make it challenging for an individual to work. Illness/ death of loved ones, deadlines, meetings, lockdowns, reduced social gatherings fuel the anxiety and stress levels in working professionals. 

Though the odds against us are large in numbers, there are some practices we can adopt in our lives to avoid burnout at work and improve mental well-being.Before jumping to the rescue tips, let us go through some statistics from various channels remote working and mental health: 

• While just 5% of employed workers mentioned experiencing work from home stress before the COVID-19 pandemic, that figure rose sharply to 18% during the pandemic.
• 67% of people said their work-life balance improved when they started working remotely. 
• 25% agree, and 14% strongly agree that since COVID-19, their mental health has negatively affected work performance
• 86% of people feel that working remotely reduces their stress levels.
• A poll reported that mental health and emotional well-being have taken a nosedive, dropping to their lowest since 2001

1.Make a routine & stick to it: 

Organizing tasks for the day will keep you mentally prepared for the day. This will also help you efficiently achieve your goal and will cross off chores on the to-do list. Time allocation and work-life balance will also stem out of a well-planned routine. You can also monitor your weekly schedule and make changes accordingly that suit you the best. 

2.Consciously uplift your mental health:

Meditation, mindfulness practices, and connecting with loved ones will help you build robust sanity. The time and efforts invested in doing so will eventually improve your mental health in the long run. There are various tools also available online which can help you achieve these goals. 

3. Build a dedicated workspace: 

By having a personal workspace, you can separate your work and personal life. This will also help to get the office-like feeling & productivity at home. The time and efforts invested in doing so will eventually improve your mental health in the long run.

The setup at home should ideally include a desk, chair, proper lighting, along with the other essentials. The environment shouldn't be cozy and must align with that of the office. If possible, keep away from any distractions.

4. Practise work transparency:

55% of employees believe that with the collaboration apps and tech they have in place, they can be successful working fully remotely indefinitely.

One of the biggest concerns of employees who are new to working remotely is figuring out how they can show their work in an easy format that is accessible to every team member involved. Keeping the team updated about work and maintaining crisp communication, the stress triggers will decline. 

It will also help in the smooth functioning of remote working. This can be achieved by using collaboration tools such as Microsoft teams, Bottle. You can get more done with less stress as the software provides the structure and flexibility you need to be productive while working remotely.

5.Connect with nature: 

Mother Earth gives us a sense of belonging and safety. Spending time under the sky, at the park, or on the beach will help you appreciate nature's wonders. The oxygen intake increases as we surround ourselves with the environment. This improves our mood and makes us joyous. It is, therefore, advised to spend some time of the day with nature. 

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6.Limit your content consumption: 

Due to decreased social activities and physical get-togethers, our consumption of content has reached heights. This may be in the form of social media, newspapers, or even television. With not many options to play around with, social media forms the easiest method to kill time.

From headaches, spinal injuries, reduced eye power to anxiety, major depression — its impact is large. The rate at which digital assets affect our minds and body is exponential. Limiting screen time and choosing the content we consume wisely can help us better our well-being.

Thus limiting screen time and choosing the content we consume wisely can help us better our well-being. There are various means by which we can take a digital detox.

7.Learn to say "NO": 

Setting boundaries for yourself at work. The downfall in markets has forced leaders to boost up their pace. This impacts the workload on teams. Extra hours, night shifts, and additional work should be a strict no-no from your end. Instead, you could have a conversation with your managers and colleagues about the workload. This will make them aware of the current scenario and also make them cautious before allocating work to you or someone else. 

Conclusion:

Mental health during the pandemic should not be ignored and instead should be prioritized. This is possible only when enough awareness and the stigmas revolving around it are broken. The employers and the organization you are working for should also take measures to ensure the wellbeing of their staff.  

The above tips can be used for the betterment of our well-being as a whole. If there’s anyone (you or known) facing grave and urgent mental issues, urging them to seek professional help for the same.

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