Change is the only constant. Over time, we eventually get acclimatized to all changes, however big or small. However, the unchartered territory spanned by the Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on our lives like never before. The fear and uncertainty have been looming over our heads for over 16 months now with a potential of yet another surge in cases and lockdowns and no respite in sight. In the face of so many adversities, cracking under the pressure is much anticipated.
Therefore, taking care of your mental well-being becomes a matter of concern. You should be on a constant lookout for the signs of anxiety or depression to be able to shrug it off effectively. Most probable triggers of the same can be:
- Feeling distant and detached: from people and your work due to working conditions in an isolated atmosphere. This can make a person feel lonely and despite the hassles involved in everyday travelling and dressing up formally (we believe almost everyone like us donned a shirt over shorts for a meeting today). The workplace camaraderie can’t be felt at home.
- Disrupted routines translated into a 24/7 hustle: With flexibility in work space, we all fit in the work whenever we feel like. This makes us scramble after deadlines leaving us no time to unplug and relax. This builds a strong space for anxiety and depression.
- One-man, multiple hats: the distance makes it difficult to coordinate with persons from different departments which necessitates you to take on multiple roles every day. This adds to the burden, sowing seeds for anxiety and stress.
- Extended work load: there’s a blur in terms of timeline and research has shown that people have witnessed an extended timeline and work load. This is one of the strong reasons for declining mental health.
- Min productivity, max pressure: your superiors can’t give you direct feedback as they can if you all work in the same space. In this, a lot of deeper insights either slip away or don’t have the required impact, at times necessitating work being redone.
But of all the reasons we’ve tracked, the most important one is the false sense of moving forward in terms of learning, incremental salary and promotions. Missing out on experience which makes it all look real makes it difficult to perceive beyond a certain point. The feel of change from a cubicle to a personal office, the transcending learning experience that passes on, these are what make the growth seem real. Feeling stuck despite a forward move.
You may end up feeling sad and even frustrated. These, if sustained for some time, make you anxious. If it goes on even longer, chances are that you are depressed. Some of the symptoms as per the Mayo Clinic are:
- Feeling agitated, restless and anxious
- Dampened concentration and slower thinking
- Finding yourself constantly at a loss of energy
- Lesser appetite or excessive craving for comfort food (stress eating), causing fluctuation in weight
- Less to almost no pleasure in any activity
- Finding your sleeping in excessive or struggling to get even bare minimum of what’s needed
- Feeling under confident and doubly checking everything
- Feeling sad, scared or hopeless all the time.
- Feeling excessively irritable or angry over trivial matters
TAKING CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH WHILE WORKING FROM HOME
- IT’S OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY
Acceptance. Where you are, where you’re headed, things you need to improvise upon are some of the things to ponder over. Most importantly, developing an optimistic outlook can help a lot.
- GET UP AND MOVE
When we exercise, our brain releases certain chemicals called endorphins, serotonin and dopamine that help us feel happier and elated. This can help curb our anxiety by just a 20-30 minutes long activity.
- ROUTINE-ISE YOUR TIMELINE
Make a proper schedule, factoring in the flexibility that work from home offers to relax and rejuvenate in-between stiff deadlines. That way, you can effectively manage and conduct any activity of your choice amidst all the hustle and bustle.
- DEVELOP THE OFFICE SETTING
Working on a desk which has been organised just like the one at your office can accentuate productivity. Working while on bed or a beanbag may land you in a super-relax mode which will later pile on the pressure of deadlines.
- CATCH-UP!
Meeting with people can help you come out of the lonesome bubble of isolation. Catching up with your colleagues can be really helpful to rejuvenate the camaraderie of the workplace setting.
Lastly, remember that tomorrow is a fresh day, an opportunity for a fresh start. If you find yourself struggling with any of the above-mentioned symptoms, reach out to your friends and family. If the need be, reach out to professionals. Remember, you’re not alone, we’re all in this together!