Hybrid working has been one of the best things to have resulted from the global Covid-19 pandemic. This new way of working has meant that many more people can pursue their careers in ways that embrace far more flexibility with when and where to work. A poll commissioned by ACAS and carried out by YouGov showed that 55% of employers expected hybrid work to continue well after the pandemic had ended and that they "expect an increase in staff working remotely or from home part of the week".
This new way of working will typically involve a split week with two or three days at the office and the rest at home, and this is posing new challenges for workers, not least how to look after their mental health. We have compiled six tips below to help.
There are many ways to maintain good mental health when working in hybrid mode. This has quickly become one of the most popular ways of working as it combines the flexibility of working from home several days per week with the chance to network with colleagues in person in the office on the other days. Many see it as the best of all possible worlds when it comes to working, and it is one of the post-pandemic working dynamics that is clearly here to stay.
Some of the ways that workers can ensure their good mental health when pursuing hybrid working include taking the time to get into the correct mindset for working every morning. This can be done using rituals like walking around the block so that when you re-enter your house, you have "walked to work". Things like this help enforce a boundary between home and work life, even though they can occur in the same physical space.
You should also ensure your office setup is as comfortable and ergonomic as possible. If you spent as long doing other things as you do working every day, you would ensure you were adequately equipped, and the same should go for work.
6 Mental Health Tips for Hybrid Workers
1. Try to Maintain a Routine
There is no pressure on your work-from-home days to get up early enough for the regular work commute, and spending this extra time in bed can be tempting. However, the more productive thing to do would be to get up at the regular time to keep your body clock on an even keel. This means there is no struggle to get up for work on the days you are due in the office. Maintain your patterns and add a walk around the block instead of using the extra time for sleeping.
This will allow you a much healthier headspace and the chance to "walk to work", which will help you to get in the right mindset to start your working day when you return from your walk. It provides a healthy mental separation of your time at work and your home time, even though you spend them in the same physical location.
2. Ensure You Have the Correct Equipment
Having the correct equipment for your work is a fundamental requirement, and ensuring your comfort during the working day is the least you should do for yourself. Self-care is essential, and nobody can look out for you better than you can yourself. With this in mind, consider investing in a height adjustable desk, or standing desk, as they are sometimes called.
This will allow you to stand up for part of the day and get some more exercise than would usually be possible when working from home. Being able to do this should help with your mental health as you will be releasing endorphins from the increased time that you spend standing.
3. Declutter Your Environment
Tidy the area where you will be working so that you can easily find everything you need. It is all very well having a brilliant standing desk, but if you cannot find anything on it, you are somewhat defeating the purpose. A tidy desk and a tidy mind go together, and tidiness can foster better productivity in some people, as they may otherwise get distracted by the mess.
4. Get Some Exercise
One of the main problems that people who have been working from home have experienced is that they haven't been getting the same amount of exercise as they used to get when they were in the office every day. This can be down to things like not walking to a bus or train station for the commute or not having to venture as far for a coffee when you are on a break. Exercise is good for your mental state, which is why so many people take up running as a hobby these days. It gets the endorphins flowing, and this helps to maintain a positive mood.
It is good to make time to exercise during the day, even if it is just "walking to work" as mentioned previously in this article or standing at a height adjustable desk for a few hours. It all counts and makes a difference.
5. Talk to Co-Workers
A critical factor in avoiding poor mental health is to take the time to talk to co-workers, even on the days that you are working from home. Whether it is picking up the phone or having a quick Zoom or Teams call, touching base with another human on your team can help stop your mood from falling away and help you feel part of something bigger than yourself.
6. Take Part in Team Activities
One of the best things about hybrid working is that you can still participate in team activities, such as lunches, if you plan ahead for when they are arranged, and you can manage it around work commitments. Meeting up with your team can make the hybrid working experience less lonely and isolating, and you may even make some new friends among your colleagues.
