In recent years working from home has become the only option for many people. The pandemic made it impossible for people to go to their offices. And whether they liked it or not, people had to adapt. Some opted to keep working from home even when they could finally return to their offices and jobs. For those working from home, that environment was a better option than going to their office. So it’s pretty clear that some people enjoyed it. But that doesn’t mean that it was as great for many people. It also doesn’t mean there aren’t bad sides to working from home. Just as working in an office, you can get overwhelmed and anxious in your home. There are many ways to make working from home less stressful, and we will explore them in this article. And these are also great things to do even when you are not working from home, and you just want to improve your quality of life.
Ways to lower stress levels
- Limit working time
- Create a dedicated working space
- Meditate
- Work out
- Sleep well
- Keep a healthy social life
- Stick to your routine
1. Limit working time
It may seem like working from home allows you to finally get rid of that tedious 9-to-5 schedule. There is no getting up early and sitting for hours in a boring dusty office—for some, that is a great relief. But for others, not so much. Many people would call themselves workaholics. And when you have no arranged schedule for working, it can easily take over your life. And when you work from home, and there is no one to limit your working hours, that can quickly become a problem. Working all the time with no breaks is very stressful and can take a huge toll on your mental health. Job burnout is real and happens to many people. So it is paramount to put a limit on your working hours. This is especially important for people who have a history of substance abuse. So in order to avoid exhaustion and triggers, make a timetable of your working hours with scheduled breaks. This is one of the best ways to make working from home less stressful.
2. Create an appropriate working space
When you work from home, lines between professional and home life sometimes get a little blurry. You can’t really focus on your work if you are constantly talking to family members, doing domestic chores, having guests, etc. Even harder if you are a parent. That can be a very stressful environment and lessen your productivity. So creating a space where you can completely focus on work with no distractions is crucial. It makes you more productive and efficient, and it also helps you separate working time and resting time in your head. Working from your bed or sofa makes it harder for you to set those boundaries.
3. Meditation is one of the great ways to make working from home less stressful
This is a great tip, not just for those working at home but for everyone. Working in any environment can start to be overwhelming and anxiety-inducing after a while. So adding meditation to your daily routine can be a great solution. The benefits of mediation are numerous. It helps you reduce negative emotions, focus on the present, build skills to manage stress, and make you more productive and efficient. Even experts at brightfuturestreatment.com recommend it as a great technique to combat stress and pressure. The other great thing is that meditation doesn’t require much time. Meditating for 20 minutes every day is more than enough for beginners. Try it and see the incredible effects of meditation for yourself.
4. Start working out
A well-balanced workout routine is great for reducing stress levels. Research shows that those who have regular physical activity handle work-related stress much better than those who don’t. And when you work from home, you don’t even have to leave your house, and that makes people less likely to work out. So make it a point to go for a jog every morning before you start working. Or swimming if running is not really your thing. Getting a gym membership is a good idea as well. Make it a part of your routine and see the ways stress levels are going down.
5. Sleeping well
You will be a little stressed when working from home no matter what. But some things can bring your stress levels up. One of those things is a lack of sleep. An irregular sleeping schedule has really bad effects on your mental health and, by proxy, on your productivity. Experts say that you need at least 8 hours of sleep to be able to function to the best of your ability. Everything below that makes you more subjective to burnout, stress, and exhaustion.
6. A healthy social life is important
It can be easy to forget about the outside world when your work leaves you homebound. But maintaining a healthy social life is of great importance when dealing with work-related stress. Being isolated for a long time is not good for you. So make an effort to stay connected to your friends and family. After you finish work go out for drinks with your friend or visit your parents. It’s easier to work from home if you have a life outside of it.
7. Be consistent
Once you have created your daily routine, you must stick to it. Don’t skip important steps like taking breaks, working out, meditating, and talking to your friends. Stability and consistency are necessary. Make a list, so you don’t forget any part of your daily routine. Everything is easier when you are organized.
Final thoughts
For as many good sides as there are to working from home, there are as many bad sides. It’s important to recognize them and make a plan for how to avoid making mistakes. Here we listed some great ways to make working from home less stressful. Taking care of yourself mentally and physically is crucial, especially in this day and age. Hopefully, this article will help you with that.