Keeping Your Mind in Check

Keeping Your Mind in Check

By Antonietta Marinelli | Febuary 04, 2022

How to take care of your mental health when working from home

Working from home has become a normality for many, due to unprecedented times and having to shift from the standard 9-5 office work environment to the luxury (or struggle) of adjusting to remote work. However, the level of productivity may have been on a whole new high for some, the spiral of distraction has creeped in for others, as the struggle to maintain productive and within a positive mind frame comes to the surface.

There is no secret that there may’ve mental health challenges that may’ve arose since working remote over the last 24-months for many. California-based Psychologist, Dr. Nicole LePera states that one of the biggest challenges she faces while working remotely from her home office is the monotony of the day. She states that one of the many challenges is the lack of stimulation and connection to people you used to see regularly (Wiest, 2020).

Working from home may lead to higher stress levels, which can potentially impact your mental health. It can turn normally optimistic, driven, and motivated individuals into tired, procrastinating, and unmotivated ones. Do not freight, there are effective ways to ensure you keep not only your mind in check, but your actions too.

Stay connected

In today’s age with the digital world dominating all areas of peoples’ lives, now including work and learning, it is vital that we stay as connected as possible with others. Remember to keep up with friends and family, even if it can only be done via Zoom or video call. Connection is key and can be challenging when you don’t leave your home for long stretches of time.

Programs to use to connect with others:

• Zoom
• iOS FaceTime (video call)
• Microsoft Teams
• Facebook Messenger

Implement a routine

Having a daily routine is essential. Sticking to a routine in which allows you to break up your day with different tasks and activities allows the mind to remain stimulated. Do you have a daily schedule or set routine to follow? When working within an office space, having a routine is a given, however, remote working is another ball game. This routine may be as simple as waking up at the same time every day and doing 5 minutes of mediation. The art of routine is the power of repetition.

Take a break

Whether it be for one hour, or one week, time off is essential to fighting off mental fatigue. You can even on your busiest days make sure that you are taking regular breaks.

Implement a routine

Having a daily routine is essential. Sticking to a routine in which allows you to break up your day with different tasks and activities allows the mind to remain stimulated. Do you have a daily schedule or set routine to follow? When working within an office space, having a routine is a given, however, remote working is another ball game. This routine may be as simple as waking up at the same time every day and doing 5 minutes of mediation. The art of routine is the power of repetition.

Schedule breaks!

Making time for a break is extremely important, especially when you’re working from home. Make sure to try and take lunch and regular breaks from electronic screens, and give yourself, and your mind time to draw focus on something else. If possible, going outside and getting some fresh air is great.

Writing things down

For decades, mountains of research has shown the benefits of writing. It helps you through your thoughts and emotions, regulates your feelings, and teaches you to express what you’re going through. In an experiment conducted by the University of Texas, James Pennebaker, PhD., assigned healthy graduates to one of four groups. All were asked to write for 15 minutes for four consecutive nights. Three of the groups were asked to write about a traumatic event in their lives, with the fourth group wrote about another trivial topic. All four groups were tracked for the next six months, with research finding that the three groups who wrote about their traumatic events have less mental and emotional stress (Hurley, 2020).

The most important thing to remember is to consciously take note of how you are feeling not only physically, but mentally. It is very easy to fall into the trap of putting yourself into over-drive to fulfil as much as possible, and to hold the belief that pushing through will keep the momentum going. Remember, to move forward we must be working at a 100% capability rate, and if that engine is running on low, it’s evitable that you will slow down. Breathe, take note, and move forward.

If you ever need help and you are finding your stress unmanageable, Mentor Education recommends the following services:

- To speak with a mental health professional at:
Lifeline -
Beyond Blue -

References:

- Wiest, B. 2020. How To Maintain Your Mental Health While Working From Home. Forbes. [Accessed 2 February 2022]
How To Maintain Your Mental Health While Working From Home "

- Hurley, K. 2020. Writing as Therapy. PSYCOM. [Accessed 3 February 2022]
The Healing Power Of Writing