Working from home can be stressful. Some people rely on the spatial divide of their workplace and home to physically separate themselves from work-related stress. However, now that most businesses have adopted a work from home setup, it can be hard to balance your home life and work. It doesn’t help that we’re still in the middle of a pandemic with no end in sight.
Here are a few tips from us to help you manage your stress during these trying times.
- Set up strict boundaries
If you’re working on a flexible schedule, set a strict time for work to keep your job from eating into your personal life. Once you hit the end of your workday, disconnect by logging out of your work email. Communicate to your colleagues that you won’t respond outside of work hours unless it’s an emergency. You can even go the extra mile and set up an office space in a separate room, so you’re not confronted by the sight of work once you clock out for the day.
- Pamper yourself
Whether it’s a bubble bath or doing your skincare routine, we all have those little pleasures that distract us from work-related stress. More indulgent activities like going to the spa or getting a massage may not be possible right now, but you can bring the spa experience to your home by purchasing steam showers or jacuzzi tubs from http://www.jtspas.co.uk.
- Exercise
Exercise can help clear your mind, improve sleep quality, and manage stress levels. Exercise has been proven to reduce stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Furthermore, it encourages the production of endorphins, which naturally lift your mood and ease the pain.
- Try aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils to improve your mood. Scents like lavender and peppermint are popular options for reducing stress. Mix these oils into massage creams or use them in a diffuser to spread the calming scent all over your house.
- Reduce your caffeine intake
Many of us drink coffee to get a boost while working, but too much caffeine contributes to stress. Caffeine increases cortisol levels and was linked to migraines and elevated heart rate. Tone down the number of cups you drink in a day. Switch to less extreme stimulants like chewing gum or black tea. Cold water also wakes your brain up without the negative effects of coffee.
- Disconnect from stressful news
While it’s important to stay updated on the news, it won’t do you any good if all it’s doing is piling onto your stress. If you still insist on staying updated, try getting your news from the paper instead. Social media news is often sensationalized and unreliable and reading the news instead of watching it on TV can help you pace yourself better.
These are tough times for all of us, and the best thing you can do for yourself is to take care of your mental and physical health. Take advantage of convenient services like food and grocery deliveries so you don’t have to worry about going out and encountering more stressful situations.
