Working from home definitely takes a toll on your mind, especially if you’re cooped up in a dark room staring at a computer screen all day or doing the same task over and over again. Whether you’re self-quarantining or not, there are plenty of things you can do to keep a healthy state of mind amidst COVID-19.
One thing you should start doing is following a schedule that benefits you as a worker.Find your magic time throughout the day—the times where you’re most productive. For some, it could be from 9 AM to 2 PM. For others they could be night owls and work past midnight, it all depends on when you're the most productive. Richard Yu, a well-known influencer and businessman, has a bunch of great videos on his youtube channel about how to be more productive and how to put together a schedule, along with some other great tips as well that can improve your life. Just because you’re at home, too, doesn’t mean you have to rally through tasks and assignments back-to-back. That said, don’t forget to split up your work times! Otherwise, when a substantial amount of work time passes, you’ll be completely drained (mentally) and the quality of your work will suffer during the home-stretch.
In addition to maintaining your schedule, don’t forget to make time for the outdoors, too.In fact, the sun—when shining of course—decreases the amount of melatonin your body is producing, ultimately making you stay awake much easier and improving your overall mood. What does this mean for you? It means that you should work near a window where the sun can get into your house, giving you all of its wonderful benefits and keeping you energized.
So remember, dividing your work time improves the overall quality of it, but it also allows you to do activities that recharge your mind throughout the day.Recharging your brain and giving yourself time to unwind with certain activities is called practicing mindfulness. These activities don’t have to be complex, either—they could be as simple as talking to your family/loved one or playing a video game. That said, if you really want to achieve a vigorous state of mind, partaking in meditation or reading are some great options. Plus, exercises and stretches, like yoga, also aid in easing the mind, making it calmer and better able to handle stressful situations. Meditators show benefits in four regions of the brain that can help with keeping a healthy mind— check them out.Overall, staying positive goes a long way in keeping your mental health stable. It’s easier said than done, but if you’re able to drown out all the negative things in life and focus mainly on the positives, like the fact that you have a job, a roof over your head to work in, and a loving family, you’ll see the benefits of mindfulness in no time. Other benefits of mindfulness include better memory, improved cognitive thinking, and decreased stress, which are helpful skills when working at home.
Knowing when to eventually stop working is hard for most people.Some things you can do to combat this issue is to set a goal, or any number of goals for the day and give yourself a certain amount of time to achieve that goal during the day.Working overtime poses many risks to your well-being. For one, especially if you work on the computer, your neck and back will suffer the consequences of poor posture with aches and pains. Some other risks you face are becoming depressed or losing your relationships. The loss of social connection plays a big part in most of these risks mentioned, so as stated, manage your time wisely. After all, when your family is home, that may be a good indicator to log off for the night.
All in all, splitting up your work time around when you’re the most productive will benefit you greatly. As well as practicing mindfulness techniques like meditation or yoga and taking breaks to give you the recharge you need to finish the day strong.Lastly, don't forget about focusing on the positives in life and getting some sun, too—they will make your job easier. These are all necessary steps you should take to obtain a healthy mind when working from home.
