What is Juneteenth and how can we mark it this year? Those living in rural or economically struggling areas may miss a key piece of the human experience: engaging in the workforce in a meaningful, long-term way. If work/life balance is a real struggle for you, check out the advice offered by Life Coach Directory. Coronavirus: Coping with the challenges of working from home. Some did find that their mental health declined, but the responses overall gravitated to positive results. Start the fightback to a healthier you today. provide informative, inspiring and topical stories about mental health and wellbeing. First, acknowledge it’s hard. should be available for everyone, no matter their situation. Please find editorial contacts in our contributor Another 10% identified as caregivers of someone with a physical or mental health issue. ... Four things you can do to look after your mental health if you're working from home because of COVID-19. Others who desire more flexibility and a better work/life balance can more readily achieve it. To find out more about how talking therapy could help, visit Counselling Directory. High rates of depression and anxiety are found in rural areas, especially among older adults who have often had their lives greatly affected by their community’s economic decline. The average commute time in the U.S. is almost 27 minutes each way. It’s fair to say there have been a lot of twists and turns since then, and a lot of emotional pressures. If you aren’t sure how to get started, check out these simple mindfulness activities, consider trying your hand at mindful crafting, or find out more about how you can avoid aches and pains with the help of a little stretching, posture tweaks, and regular breaks. Suite 820 Working from home can impact on our mental health. While there are benefits to working from home, you might also find it lonely or isolating. Mental health and work are intertwined. Phone (703) 684.7722 Good work is great for our mental health and it's important that we preserve the opportunity to enjoy the benefits … Emotional Wellbeing Prevention and Enhancement Lead at Nuffield Health, Gosia Bowling, commented: “Those who regularly work from home have established routines and boundaries that help them compartmentalise their personal and professional lives. For some, working from home is a great opportunity for their careers and health. While most home workers in our survey clearly enjoy working from home, using words like “free”, “in control” and “calm” to describe how it makes them feel, it also revealed some negative feelings. Finding a work-life balance is also proving to be problematic for many, with nearly a third (30%) finding it difficult to separate their home and work lives. own mental health. break the stigma of mental health in our society, and to shine a light on the positivity and It looked pretty gloomy for a while.”, Because of her remote teaching job, Jennifer says, “It’s great to be making a change and to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”. Our aim is to provide I think we can all agree: 2020, as a whole, has been tough. “Commute” to work. Flexible schedule. But according to our … But there’s not enough money to go around, not enough jobs to go around. Exercise and stay active: This is not only good for your physical health, but also your mental health. Of those surveyed, 25% said they are finding it difficult to cope with the challenges brought about by loneliness and isolation from colleagues. Feeling stressed, anxious, low or struggling to sleep? We all have mental health, and whatever our circumstance this outbreak is going to have an impact on how we think and feel about ourselves and the world we live in. The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly. How working from home is worsening our mental health. Mental Health America understands that racism undermines mental health. Don't underestimate the benefits of simply being outside. Working from home has plenty of benefits...but that doesn't automatically mean it's the best thing for your overall mental health and well-being. Eat breakfast. Unsplash/ThoughtCatalog. We’re on a mission to create a healthier, happier, more sustainable society. A further report on Coronavirus and anxiety in Great Britain released by the ONS suggested that whilst overall levels of anxiety have begun to lessen, pressures of homeschooling have lead to a further increase in stress and loneliness. We all have mental health and some of us will experience mental illness – but that doesn’t Credit: iStockphoto We have also seen spikes in redundancies, alcohol abuse, and domestic violence calls. Good mental health has to be the top priority for staff when working from home during the COVID-19 lockdown, explains CartridgeSave MD, Ian Cowley. Living through the decline of an industry or long-term high unemployment can negatively affect mental health. While working from home can provide an amazing sense of freedom and flexibility as well as a no-cost commute, there are pitfalls and hidden stressors to be aware of. That’s likely why 77% of those we surveyed said flexible work options would help them be healthier. Here are some of the most interesting and, perhaps, surprising, ways flexible work can positively affect mental health. Takeaways from the study also include that participants had less psychological stress and more time to spend with their family and spouses. I am, I have is a new podcast where we’ll be talking with great Shower. As a Mental Health America study of 17,000 employees found, employees in unhealthy workplaces are likely to experience higher stress and lower engagement and these feelings actually spread throughout the workplace, negatively affecting workplace culture. Taking a lunchtime walk, or mixing up your tea break with some simple stretches to ease back pain can help you to feel reinvigorated and mentally prepared. For people with mental health concerns, caregivers, and professionals at large, flexible work options can help support our efforts to improve the mental health of ourselves and those around us. Looking after your mental health while working from home. By managing expectations and setting boundaries, you can give yourself peace of mind to take a step back, take a breather, and come back more refreshed and ready to go. The benefits are a huge boost to your mental health and well-being. For example, shut down your laptop rather than leaving it open, switch off your work phone, or close the door to the room where you’ve been working. people, finding out about the passions that shape their lives, as well as their responses to their Yes, even in winter. By offering flexible work options, companies are signaling to their employees that they can and should devote more time to health and wellness. The results of a new survey by Nuffield Health, the UK’s largest healthcare charity, have revealed that working from home may have significantly impacted out mental health. your mental health when working at home They can help you think about how you can support your own mental health and identify how to stay well and maintain good mental health in work 6 Working from home a Wellness Action Plan. With Covid-19 leading to many being furloughed or losing their jobs entirely amidst a health crisis like we have never seen before, we have all had to make changes to our daily routines and lives. Toll Free (800) 969.6642 © Copyright 2021 Mental Health America, Inc. 2018 survey of over 3,000 professionals we conducted at FlexJobs, High rates of depression and anxiety are found in rural areas, FlexJobs is partnering with economic development organizations in Kentucky, Mental Health America study of 17,000 employees. It can improve productivity, reduce distractions, reduce stress, improve work satisfaction, lower the time (and cost) you spend commuting, give you greater sense of control over your workday, and can even help to avoid challenging colleagues! Our aim is to Exercise is also a powerful way to help reduce stress and improve mental wellbeing. At the end of all the uncertainty it will be very interesting to see how this crisis has changed our landscape and how many continue working remotely. stigma of mental health in our society, and to shine a light on the positivity and support that That’s according to a 2018 survey of over 3,000 professionals we conducted at FlexJobs. Encourage movement. The survey also found that work-life balance and commute-related stress are two of the top factors that make people want a job with flexible options. These things take time to get right and will be different for each individual, but without them, the continuous pressure of work can negatively impact our mental health, which in turn can impact not only our relationships but our physical health.”. define who we are we. You can take breaks at any moment, feel no rush to hang up on your family members when they call, and eat lunch at any weird time you want. Working from home can be hard. Working from home is hard — a routine makes it easier. Given your experience of working from home to date, what helps Respondents also said that remote work could help them reduce stress and improve productivity by reducing distractions during the work day (75%) and interruptions from colleagues (74%), keeping them out of office politics (65%), allowing for a quieter work environment (60%), and giving them a more comfortable (52%) and personalized (46%) work environment. Freedom and Autonomy. If you have a general enquiry that has not been answered in our FAQs, please do not hesitate to get in touch: If you are experiencing problems with your print subscription, please contact our distributor Print. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. It can be tempting to check ‘just one more email’ or to reply to ‘just one more message’ from colleagues in a group chat. For some people, working from home can put their mental health at risk, causing feelings of isolation and disconnection, Hooper noted. If you must check-in after the end of the working day, try assigning a specific short period of time to do so.”. Keeping the camera switched off for some meetings can help take the pressure off, and may even allow you to focus more on what is being said, rather than trying to keep up with which pixelated colleague is saying it. Having a good bedtime routine will help you to switch off mentally and rest easier, hopefully then waking up with a positive outlook on the day.”. While video calls are still providing a valuable link for many, they could also be creating more stress. When you don’t have an office to show up to, you miss out on opportunities for regular social interaction and … Stay home when you are sick. But according to our survey, people who are interested in flexible work options have even longer commutes: 73% said they have had round-trip commutes of an hour or more. This can include something as simple as a 10-minute walk. FlexJobs is partnering with economic development organizations in Kentucky, Colorado, Utah, and other rural areas throughout the country to assist residents in finding remote opportunities and the residents talk about the positive impact they’re already experiencing through remote work. To encourage positive mental health, as well as create boundaries between work and home life, Gosia recommends following these five simple tips to help you to better manage your current situation and improve your mental wellbeing while working from home. The freedom that comes from working from home adds immeasurable value to your mental health. Get happiful magazine delivered straight to your inbox. By doing this, you can begin to create a mental headspace that will help you to unwind, relax, and prepare for the next day. This means that we pledge to work against individual racism, interpersonal racism, and institutional racism in all their forms. “Poor quality sleep will make you feel more tired, stressed, less energised and more anxious as a result. The sudden shift to a remote work setup has been surprisingly stressful for many employees, explains Dr Dominique Steiler, professor of people, organizations, and society at Grenoble School of Business. guidelines. The latest insights from Nuffield Health show that, whilst we are recognising many of the benefits of working from home, such as saving time and money thanks to the lack of commute, as well as more time to spend with our families, many feel that this prolonged period of working from home may be taking its toll on our mental wellbeing. Alexandria, VA. 22314 500 Montgomery Street, By Brie Weiler Reynolds, FlexJobs Senior Career Specialist. When working from home: Get ready for work. Would you like to contribute to happiful? “Relaxation techniques such as meditation and mindfulness can help you become more aware and accepting of your thoughts. Here are some of the most interesting and, perhaps, surprising, ways flexible work can positively affect mental health. The fact that improved mental health has an overall higher response rate than declined mental health is an interesting insight into the benefits of working from home, especially when considered in combination with the previous responses. Scheduling some activity into your day will benefit your work-from-home experience. Many of us work better face-to-face and miss seeing our colleagues in person. Keep the same routine as when heading into the office. 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