Co-Founder, Everlast Media GmbH.
More and more companies are adopting remote work. Many employees expect the opportunity to work from home, and companies that do not offer this option are seen as unappealing. However, working from home has its drawbacks. As the owner of a fully digitized consulting firm boasting over 20 remote employees and nearly 1,000 online clients, I understand what challenges occur while working from home: deadlines, video conferences and calls with superiors while performing household chores and caring for children.
Many individuals working from home find it challenging to separate work and personal life. Often, direct communication with superiors and colleagues falls by the wayside, occasionally leading to misunderstandings and stressful waits in front of the computer. Attitude plays a significant role when adapting to this work environment. Try implementing some of these tips to support mental well-being and have more energy for productive work from home.
Six tips to reduce stress and habits to enhance your mental well-being while working from home:
1. Prioritize mental health.
With a schedule full of video meetings, tasks, deadlines, family activities, childcare and exercise, taking care of mental health often ends up at the bottom of the list. Employees should invest in their mental health and seek help before serious issues develop. One way to increase mental well-being is to take regular breaks during work. These breaks can be used to start the washing machine, check on the children or simply take a few minutes to relax.
2. Stay open and reduce perfectionism.
Many employees feel pressure to prove themselves to their employers while working from home. You might be tempted to hide problems when adjusting to a new work model and avoid seeking support from colleagues or superiors. Alternatively, you may take on more work than you can handle to demonstrate productivity from home. In times like these, leadership qualities are needed, not only at the management level but at every level. Setting a good example and raising awareness among colleagues can foster mutual support.
3. Maintain a structured daily routine.
A crucial tip for remote workers is to establish a structured daily routine and strictly follow it. Rules can alleviate stress by making decisions for you. Good organization and planning leave more mental resources and energy to complete tasks. Even if you can’t always check off every item on your to-do list, this method allows you to work more calmly and with better control.
4. Document your work progress.
One of the biggest concerns for employees in the early stages of remote work is how to provide colleagues with insight into their work. Various project management tools elegantly address this issue by facilitating team communication. These tools can create an overview of what is expected from each team member, address workloads and assignments for specific projects, and identify what has already been completed. You can collaborate on projects with your team, combining communication and project management in one portal. This provides both the flexibility and structure needed to be productive in a remote work environment.
5. Stay in touch with colleagues.
Regularly staying in touch is an excellent way to proactively support the mental health of colleagues who are also working from home. Whether through group chats, video conferences or old-fashioned phone calls, try to maintain contact with your team members. This is especially important if you notice that someone is not doing well. You can also suggest personal team events or virtual team-building activities to strengthen cohesion and provide an opportunity for friendly exchange. Whatever you choose to do, be sure to lend an open ear and support each other at all times.
6. Keep your home office free of clutter.
Your work environment can have a significant impact on your ability to concentrate. Choose a dedicated area in your home for work and avoid eating, pursuing hobbies or using social media there. If that’s not possible, shelves or plants can serve as room dividers. Your brain then associates the area with productive work, allowing you to enter an efficient work mode more quickly when you are in that space. If your workspace is cluttered and you find it difficult to focus, there may be a connection between these two factors. According to HBR, a messy desk can affect your productivity, mood and motivation. Keep only the items you immediately need within arm’s reach. It’s also worth noting the importance of having an ergonomic chair in this space to support your back, neck and spine.
Conclusion
Regularly exchange information with superiors and colleagues to help prevent misunderstandings. Communicate availability or schedule regular team meetings. Establish a physical separation between your workspace and leisure area in your home. Tidy up after work so you can completely disconnect and not be reminded by an open laptop or scattered documents. Take breaks and eat meals away from your desk. Stick to regular work hours for remote work—start and end at the usual times.
While remote work comes with its challenges, it also presents an opportunity to be more productive than in the office. With the right resources and tools, companies can seamlessly transition collaboration and project management to the virtual space. Moreover, with clear structures and adequate downtime in the home office, stress can effectively be reduced, and a good work-life balance can be achieved, contributing to overall health and well-being
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