Have you begun to fuse to your couch while tackling back to back Zoom meetings? Are your eyes going square from staring at a screen for half the day?

The new normal is upon us and with that, a sweeping shift towards remote work. Many are struggling to adapt to working from home permanently.

Check out these tips for maintaining your wellbeing, while working from home:

Create Routines

Have a dedicated workspace – Having a clear distinction between your workspace and your living space can help you unplug after work. If possible, try not to work from your bedroom. If space is an issue, try clearing up all work clutter for the evening and lighting a scented candle to signal the end of the work day.
Make sure to take your breaks – Being alert and available 24 /7 is not healthy. Breaks are your time to relax and make yourself a lovely cuppa. You will come back refreshed, which serves both you and your work. If you feel uneasy with being away from the laptop, pop a message into Slack or change your status to away.

Move – Movement is healthy and it’s good to try to pepper it into your day. A lunchtime walk in the fresh air can do wonders for your energy and focus. For bonus points, ask a friend to join you!

Stretch – Being glued to a laptop all day is not good for anyone’s posture. Stretching is a great way to combat these aches and pains. There are endless Youtube videos offering ten minute yoga sequences for relaxing tense shoulders and necks. Stick on a video and try rolling out your shoulders throughout the day to keep your blood flowing and mobility strong.

Switching Off

Have a clear cut off time – Remote workers tend to put in longer hours because the end of the work day is not clearly defined. Boundaries are important and give you something to aim towards when managing your time. Having a clear end to your day will help you mentally wrap up for the evening.

Plan for tomorrow – List what needs to be done and schedule your tasks for the following day. Having a plan of action will put you at ease and stop work concerns from bubbling up during your downtime.

Communicate Boundaries – For people who work across time zones, it is not unusual to have emails come in at all hours. Set clear expectations of when you will and will not be online. Turning off your email notifications will prevent you getting sucked into an email thread out of hours.
We’ve experienced a collective upheaval in our daily routines. It is natural to struggle with thismonumental change but by introducing small changes, you can ensure that your wellbeing takes priority while working from home.