As the Coronavirus has started to take a firm grip all across the nation, many companies have established working from home policies to protect the health and well-being of their employees. Considering the nationwide lockdown, even big firms like Apple, Facebook, and Google have shut down their offices to reduce the spread of the deadly virus.

Working remotely seems to be extremely easy for some people. In fact, some of you might have always dreamt about sitting back in a comfy chair at home and sending emails in your pyjamas.

Whether it’s your first time or not, working from home for an extended period of time can be disruptive, especially when you are locked inside during quarantine

And, when stress and anxiety builds they take a toll on your mental health, hindering your performance and overall productivity at work.

But here’s some good news: there are some simple things that you need to take care of to work effectively without losing your mind.

As always, we are here with some helpful tips that can help you to cope with your situation while working remotely. Here we go!

1. Have a Fixed Morning Routine

Even if you work from home, be on the same schedule as you used to be while going out to work.

Starting work on the computer after getting up straight from your bed makes you lazy and lowers concentration levels.

On the other hand, waking up an hour before the office opens and indulging in healthy activities like getting some fresh air, yoga, meditation, and eating a healthy breakfast can help to ease your mind.

Stick to your regular hours to get a habitual work from home culture and get your best work done effectively.

At your home office, there are no managers or team leaders to look for you. You are responsible and accountable for yourself. Therefore, you need to maintain your daily routine to achieve your personal and professional goals.

2. Recreate A Designated Workspace

Having a designated workspace at home is an important step to take when working from home.

It is also essential to keep your work at a defined place so that you don’t need to search for the charger, notepad, mouse or any essential pieces of equipment across the house every other day.

Using a drawing room, living room, study room, or any corner of the house will work well. A well-organized workspace increases productivity and develops the feeling of working in an actual office.

All you need is: a good internet connection, lighting, table, and a comfy, ergonomic chair to start working. But, make sure the chair is not too comfy as it will make you drowsy and sleepy.

Not only will it make you a lot more focused but this also helps you to make it a positive experience and help you stay calm.

3. Take Breaks

Though you are locked inside, that doesn’t mean you have to sit still on the same chair and work for long hours without any breaks in between.

In fact, it is more important than ever to get up and move around to reduce stress, anxiety or any pain in the neck or shoulder areas.

Take short intervals in between work at fixed timings or know your body signals when it starts bothering you and you no longer feel comfortable.

You can utilize these short breaks to get some fresh air, stretch, speak to family members, play with kids or pets or just simply go for a walk to reduce stress level and curb anxiety.

4. Manage Distractions at Home

One of the biggest challenges of working at home is managing distractions.

These interruptions are more for those people who are living with their families. Therefore, it is important to avoid distractions to stay productive.

First of all, avoid using your mobile phone regularly. Obviously, it is important to check the news, stay connected with people, and get updated information about COVID-19 but, doing that after every 5-10 minutes will only add to the anxiety and you might compromise the quality of your work.

Give yourself some particular time to use the phone i.e. twice during work and please don’t overdo it.

Another suggestion – talk with your family throughout the day when you are free from work or on a break. Also, ask them to keep the noise levels down so it doesn’t affect your work. Sounds simple but it can be really important?

5. Do Not Take Coffee Breaks

Although we have told you to think and try to behave like you are working in an actual office but that doesn’t mean you are allowed to take the coffee break too.

You know why?

According to Healthline, caffeinated drinks increase anxiety, irritation, and several other health problems as follows:

• Sleeping problems
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Tiredness and sluggish feelings
• Mood swings
• Fast heart rate

Therefore, cut back on caffeine consumption and replace it with healthier alternatives that keep you hydrated and healthy like fresh fruit juices, coconut water or lemon water.

6. Eat a Balanced Diet

The Times of India has revealed that eating a poor diet with fewer fruits and vegetables in it increases stress.

When sitting at home, you are likely to binge on sugary and junk foods that only further increases your temptation towards it. Hence, you tend to overeat.

So, you need to take up a healthy diet filled up with green vegetables and fruits to improve your mental health and keep the gut healthy. Choose healthy snacking options like fruits, yoghurt, popcorn, nuts, smoothies and dry fruits to curb hunger effectively.

Do not eat at your workspace because it’s unhygienic and makes you less productive. Get up and eat somewhere else whereby you can refresh your mind and reduce the risk of weight gain.

7. Increase Communication

You will come through a lot of challenges while working remotely. The key to resolve them is through communication.

Don’t worry! Stay in touch with your team leader, manager or colleague to work smoothly while quarantined. Do not hesitate to send emails or even calls when required.

Keep in touch with colleagues to know if they are doing alright to help reduce their anxiety as well. Perhaps the best way to be productive is to maintain clear channels of communication with the people you work with.

Final Thoughts:

Whether you have worked from home before or not, working remotely because of the Coronavirus outbreak is a big challenge and a completely new thing for a lot of us.

Luckily, considering the tips that we have shared above, you can be successful both at work and when maintaining your overall well-being.

It is a very difficult time around the world because of the fast-spreading viral disease COVID-19, but reaching out, staying connected, and talking to each other can really help to lessen the stress and anxiety of yours and others.

And, most importantly, remember that you are not in this alone!