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Working from home has become the new reality for many of us, and the always-productive mindset may sometimes become too much.

It’s essential to find ways to de-stress while working from home so that you don’t burn out and stay motivated for the time being.

Here are 4 ways to reduce stress for those who are working from home.

1. Set aside time for fun activities

It’s hard to stay motivated and focused on a task when you’re in the comfort of your home filled with distractions all around you. That’s why some would be hesitant to take regular breaks and would therefore try to push themselves to power through another 2-3 hours of work.

But the brain needs to rest every once in a while; that’s why it’s important to step away from your current task and engage in activities that bring you joy.

At the start of each day, while you’re planning your schedule out, set time aside for your breaks.

Maybe you’re a fan of sports and like watching grassroots rugby at your downtime, or you enjoy listening to audiobooks, podcasts, or watching tv shows. Whatever you feel like would help you recharge and energise you for the rest of the day, you can try out.

You don’t need to take that long of a break either; just a 15-20 minute break will be enough to refresh your whole mood. 

2. Connect with friends

One of the downsides of remote working is no doubt the feelings of loneliness. When you don’t have friends or colleagues with you at your workspace, you can communicate with or bounce ideas off; things can get boring quickly.

Having the support of coworkers, housemates, and family members can help to alleviate the boredom of working alone, making you refreshed, more energised, and productive.

Mini breaks from your desk and quick catch-ups with your other work-at-home friends can help relieve some of the pressures of the job.

Since everyone’s schedules are somewhat different than regular work hours, set a specific time to video chat or call each other or catch up via your group chat, and put it in your calendar as a reminder.

3. Do a quick exercise

Movement is an excellent stress reliever, and you should incorporate short movement breaks into your workday at all times. Even a quick 10-minute break where you start moving your body around will do the trick. Take a few laps around your living room, go for a short run during your lunch break, do a quick yoga flow, or even lift weights; do whatever you enjoy doing, as long as you’re moving your body.

Exercise breaks are also great for reducing eye strain and headaches from staring at screens all day.

4. Reward yourself

As more and more people started working from home, there have been hundreds, maybe even thousands of articles, videos, podcasts and books, encouraging and showing tips on being productive. While all these tips and how-tos are helpful to an extent, this mindset of being productive all day every day can be anxiety-inducing and burn you out in no time.

We’re living in strange times, and there isn’t a manual that shows how everyone can deal with everyday life a certain way, so be kind to yourself, and practice some compassion even when you’re not feeling your 100% and being productive the whole day.

Some days you might smash through your checklist by noon. Other days you may make yourself a healthy breakfast, curl up with your favourite book, and call it a day, and that’s okay. Remind yourself that you’re strong, and practice self-care on a daily.

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