Welcome to October!

October is also Mental Health Month, with October 10 – 17 being World Mental Health Week. This month we encourage you all to think about your mental health and wellbeing, because having good mental health is very important in your everyday lives.

 Here at Modus Operandi we are all VERY familiar with working remotely. 

 

Here are some of our top tips to help you care for your health and wellbeing while working from home. 

 

1. Maintain a regular routine.

We are all creatures of habit. Get up, get dressed and ‘arrive’ at your desk 5 to 10 minutes early to go through emails and create your daily task list. If you feel overwhelmed by your responsibilities, divide your day into smaller tasks so you can focus on one at a time. When the working day is done, log off and focus on personal activities and priorities to avoid burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

 

2. Create a comfortable and clutter-free workspace.

Most of us spend many, many hours at our desks each week. It is important you create a comfortable and dedicated workspace and keep this area clutter-free. Having a tidy workspace will increase your efficiency and help you stay focused. Focusing only on your work when you are in this space will create a physical and mental boundary between your professional and personal life. If you want some tips on setting your workspace up correctly to maximise your health, be sure to read our blog.

 

3. Communicate!

Communication really is the key to not feeling alone when working remotely. Thanks to the digital world we live in, there are many ways we can maintain continuous communication with your colleagues besides your usual emails to phone calls. Why not utilise online platforms such as Zoom or Teams (video meeting) to schedule a fortnightly team lunch and catch up with your team mates?

 

4. Face-to-face is always best.

Wherever possible, communicate with your colleagues via video chats. Face-to-face conversations help you feel more connected and are typically more engaging than just a regular email or phone call, so wherever possible communicate with your team via video chats.

 

5. Take a break.

Like any working environment, it is important to take occasional breaks to let your body relax. Get up from your desk every hour to take a quick 10-minute walk around your house, do gentle exercises in your living room or make yourself a coffee. These short breaks will help you refocus on your work tasks – improving both your productivity and mental health.

 

6. Maintain physical health.

Eat well, sleep well and exercise well – these three factors contribute to good overall physical health and should not be ignored because you are working at home. Eat your breakfast, take a lunch break and get enough sleep. Physical activity and regular mealtimes also serve as great ways to break up the day and keep you working productively.

 

7. Practice mindfulness.

Mindfulness techniques help to reduce stress and improve your overall attention span. You could try some deep breathing and doing some stretches. Try taking 5 minutes out of your day today and follow along with the stretches in this Youtube video!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu5agPdNWEc

 

8. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

If you begin to feel overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Rather than holding in your feelings, speak out and ask your manager or trusted colleague for help. Speaking out will lift a whole heap of weight off your shoulders.

If you are ever feeling down, stressed or overwhelmed, make sure you re-read these tips as self-care when working from home is vital. By setting healthy boundaries and prioritising your mental and physical wellbeing, you’ll avoid falling into bad habits and will instead remain productive and motivated. You may even find yourself feeling happier and healthier overall.

Here’s to a happy and healthy month ahead!