Mental health is just as important as physical health. With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are taking extra measures to stay healthy and boost our immune system response. All of us are too focused on drinking vitamins, having enough hours of sleep, and everything necessary to strengthen our physical bodies. However, we can often get our mental health overlooked and placed on the sidelines.
Despite that, we should be able to safeguard our mental health the same way we look out for our physical well-being.
The pandemic is posing new and unusual problems. With this virus, we're in uncharted territory, so it's important to find new ways to function and connect while still caring for our mental health and well-being.
For the first time, many people are working full-time from home, away from coworkers, friends, and relatives. Our daily routines are interrupted, resulting in increased anxiety, tension, and pressure on a physical, emotional, and financial level. It's only normal for anxiety and depression to arise as a result of the disruption and confusion.
Now more than ever, we should be giving the appropriate care that is needed for our emotional and mental wellness. In this article, we are talking about just that. Hang on and read until the end to apply these tips into your daily life.
Noticing the Tell-Tale Signs of Mental Health Issues
Have you found a difference in your mental health after working from home?
Do you feel more tired now that you don't have to commute? Are you experiencing feelings of loneliness even though you have the freedom to clock in from anywhere you want?
In that case, more than likely your mental health has been affected by the uncertainty of the times. Work from home jobs can put your mental health in jeopardy.
It can transform usually upbeat, efficient workers into irritable and grumpy people who are tired and unmotivated.
So, before you reach rock bottom, learn how to recognize the symptoms of mental illness so you can take action. Below are a few signs and symptoms that you might be experiencing because of the quarantine season that we are in.
1. Isolation and Loneliness
According to one research, 19 percent of people who work remotely report feeling lonely. Loneliness is most dangerous when it is persistent and could become a temporary reality for those who live alone as more people are forced to stay at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
When you don't have to go out for work, you can spend days without speaking to anyone.
When you work remotely, you don't have to deal with distracting colleagues, but you do miss the social part of laughing and venting about work and life.
You may feel depressed and isolated as a result of your disconnect from your colleagues and the rest of the world. Loneliness is linked to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms such as random pain.
The usual lifestyle that you have had pre-pandemic is surely something you are missing. This can cause the heavy feelings of sadness that have been revolving around your mind and have been causing some heavy emotions to take control over you.
2. Stress, Anxiety, and Pressure
There is constant pressure to hustle. Driven by goals and dreams, you take extra jobs to more than make ends meet. You most likely cram work in whenever you can. You risk burning out if you don't take time to reconnect and unplug.
For people who work and sleep in the same room, the line between work and home life blurs. You may feel compelled to be on when you're not supposed to be. All the stress and feelings of anxiety and pressure can cause exhaustion and burnout.
3. Anxiety and Depression
When you're working from home and feel trapped, depression can set in. Working from home can cause or exacerbate depression due to anxiety, stress, and loneliness. Depression is more than just a bad mood. It can make it easier to feel anger, irritability, and lack of enthusiasm in doing different tasks.
Depression can also hinder good sleep. You can be more exhausted than usual, and you might even feel restless and unmotivated to do basic activities.
What You Can Do to Take Care of Your Mental Health
● Build a Routine and Stick to It.
You can start working whenever you want? About 40% of people believe the best part of operating remotely is having a flexible schedule.
The way you schedule those hours in your day, however, makes all the difference.
Do you have a routine or schedule that you stick to?
You mentally brace yourself for what to expect during the day as you plan your activities and outline your goals. Then, rather than haphazardly pursuing your objectives, it would be easier to work against them.
● Find a Spot to Work and Upgrade it to Suit Your Needs.
One survey shows 84% of remote workers get their business done from home. But do you like working in your home office?
Make sure to have a wide desk and that it can give you the benefits that you are looking for. FlexiSpot's Comhar All-in-One Standing Desk Glass Top EG8 is one great option for you to consider. This is a desk that is easy to assemble and has smart features that will be a whole lot helpful for your daily tasks. When choosing a desk, it should be big enough to carry all your items. A desk like that should be able to support your hands when using your mouse and keyboard.
Another product you might want to add to your workstation is an ergonomic office chair. The chair should be comfortable and ergonomic, and it supports the back. Long work hours necessitate a chair that is tolerant of your back, neck, and spine. For the curve of your lower back, look for good lumbar support. The BackSupport office chair BS8 can give you that and more.
● You should try and mingle with other people, especially the ones inside your household.
When you're down, peer support is just as good as cognitive behavior therapy. As a result, schedule time each week to spend with your core community of friends and family members who encourage you.
Remember to stay in touch with friends and family, even if it means making a Zoom or FaceTime call. When regulations in your area are removed, text someone you care for and try to make plans as much as you feel relaxed.
Connection is crucial, and it can be difficult to maintain when you don't leave your house for a long time.
Conclusion
If you follow consider these tips provided in this article, you'll be able to protect your mental health from the isolation, anxiety, and depression that many remote workers face.
If you're suffering from depression or anxiety, talk to someone you trust, talk to your doctor, or find a mental health provider. You're not the only one who feels this way. Know that tomorrow is still a new day.
