How To Cope When Remote Working Isn’t Working
How to navigate your mental health working remotely?
With more people working from home, it’s important to shed some light on remote workers’ mental health issues.
As the pandemic sent more people to work from home, it might seem that it’s a great way to relax, save money and time. But social isolation and a lack of work-life balance can have harmful effects on your mental health.
Regardless of the global situation, remote workers and freelancers are more prone to developing loneliness and similar mental health issues than their in-house colleagues.
I’m a freelancer, and for the past year and a half, I’ve been working remotely. I’m an introvert, making it easier to deal with working alone, but my introversion doesn’t exclude me from feeling isolated and lonely.
I would lie if I said that remote working is a bed of roses. And if you’re a remote worker, you probably know that it can take a toll on your mental health. I’ve talked with my remote working friends and researched information online to find out that I’m not the only one struggling.
Some of the leading mental health concerns remote workers face
Isolation and loneliness
According to the Buffer survey, 19% of remote workers find isolation a significant disadvantage of remote working. The same study showed that 84% of questioned people work from home most of the time. It can be easy to fall behind your social life when you have the comfort of your home, a stable WIFI, and unlimited food breaks.
You might find yourself spending days without talking to another person, which sooner or later affects your mental wellness.
Burnout
It might seem strange that a person working from home could feel exhausted. But according to the DigitalOcean survey, 82% of remote workers experience burnout.
82% of remote workers experience burnout.
The researchers say that remote work fatigue happens because remote employees try to prove their productivity. Some remote workers also admit that their in-house colleagues expect them to do more to validate their working model.
Either way, it creates a hostile working environment and increases your chances of burnout.
Staying motivated
Some days I struggle to motivate myself. It isn’t easy to push yourself to perform when you’re the only one responsible for showing up. If day after day, you work from home, your days might start to look like Groundhog Day movie.
How to navigate your mental health working from a home office?
Find ways to connect with others
Whether online or in real life, humans need other humans. Although the world is going through a rough patch, you can’t ignore your nature to connect.
You might want to try finding online writing groups, organizing virtual meetings, or writing sessions. At this time, you should be lucky as many people move online and search for others to connect.
You can suggest your friends join you and turn your home into a temporary office. You can also ask your colleagues who struggle working remotely or other freelancers. Just ensure basic safety measures.
If connecting with others isn’t an option, you can find a quiet spot to work at a local library, coffee shop, or coworking. Even though you might not talk much with others, the feeling of being surrounded by people can help you feel less isolated.
Plan breaks and stick to them
Breaks can help you focus better and feel more motivated. A Tork study showed that breaks are essential in keeping employees engaged with their work. As a remote worker, you have the freedom to schedule your breaks independently.
When I work from home, I take breaks between each task, no matter how small it is. I try not to use my free time to scroll my phone, but instead, I switch focus. I wash dishes, take out the trash, make my bed.
It might be tempting to bring your work to bed, switching from TV to a computer. But your body needs to change focus, positions, and move a little to function properly.
If you have trouble taking breaks, put them on your to-do list.
Take vacation even if you’re not going anywhere
The paradox of remote and freelance work is that we have more freedom, but we don’t use it. According to the same Buffer survey, the majority of remote workers have unlimited vacation time, but most of them take only 2 weeks a year to rest.
It’s a common belief that remote workers can work and travel at the same time. But workation is not a vacation, it’s just switching your working space.
Vacation is necessary for you to recover and come back with fresh ideas. Even if you work from home and aren’t planning on traveling, taking a week or two off can improve your mental wellness and focus greatly.
Find help
Mental health problems are still taboo in our society. But like any other health issue, we should take it seriously, and ask for professional help if needed. At first, it can be intimidating to admit that you need help, but you can start by calling a friend or a person you trust. They should be able to listen to your concerns and help you make the right decision. If you’re feeling dissatisfied with your working situation, neglecting your feelings can lead to severe consequences.
Use your freedom wisely
How many times have you said excuses like “I don’t have time to do sports or cook healthy meals because of my full-time job?”
When you work from home, you have a lot of time to spare otherwise used to commute and get ready. You can use this time to be more physically active, prepare home-cooked meals, and take on your hobbies.
Most of the people who are nailing remote working are the ones who know how to use it wisely. You might want to spend more time doing what you’ve always wanted or use it to connect with your loved ones. Whatever it is, try to benefit from your freedom.
We live in uncertain times, now more than ever we need to stop for a moment and look inwards. How do you feel, and how does your work make you feel? If you feel like something is off, you probably are right. Instead of pushing down negative feelings, confront them, and look for help.
