8 Managing your wellbeing when working remotely

There have been various studies on the implications of remote or hybrid work on mental health (Xiao et al., 2021). Without a clear schedule, the lines between work and personal time can get blurred and become stressful to manage, and social isolation can be a concern, if you are not regularly talking to others online, or finding opportunities to meet people in person. This can lead to a lack of motivation and also anxiety, and can take a toll on your mental health. It is therefore useful to take certain precautions in order to best protect yourself mentally. Here are four simple tips to avoid hybrid burnout and mental struggles from remote work:

1. Setting a clear routine can be one of the best ways to keep on top of things. Make sure you go to bed and wake up at a similar time each day, finish work at a similar time, and put everything away once you have finished to ensure your work environment fully ‘stops’ at the end of the day.

2. If you have the room in your home, creating a dedicated working space for work can leave you feeling more motivated for the working day ahead. It will also help you avoid distractions and ensure a productive day.

3. Arrange to talk to someone either virtually or meeting for a coffee, or going for a walk at least once a week. This does not have to be a work colleague.

4. Lastly, making time for breaks is important to help manage feelings of stress. Try to take lunch breaks and regular screen breaks and give yourself something else to concentrate on, even if it is only for five minutes. Hybrid/remote work involves much more screen time than a traditional office day, so be sure to take breaks as much as possible.