Working from home is supposed to be the dream, right? You can work in your pyjamas, work to your own schedule, and have easy access to all of your home comforts. In theory, it should be a mostly stress-free experience.

Of course, the reality is far different. Working from home can be stressful, and this is largely down to social isolation, deadlines to meet, and, as we discussed in this article, the inability to fully switch off from work.

So, how do we manage these stresses? Well, here are some suggestions that we hope you find useful.

#1: Take steps to overcome your stressors

Firstly, we need to confront our stressors. If social isolation is causing us stress, we should make the effort to have human contact during the day. We could step outside and chat with a neighbour, for example, or we could pick up the phone and talk to a friend. 

If the stress is due to a problem switching off, we should remove ourselves from anything work-related after finishing work, such as avoiding our laptops if we think we might be tempted to check on a project. It takes willpower but as rest is important for managing stress, we should take such a step to get out of work mode.

Consider the things that you find stressful and look online for answers on how you might manage them. 

#2: Try a stress-relieving remedy

Finding ways to overcome our stressors is one thing but what do we do when feelings of stress threaten to overwhelm us? One way to manage such feelings is to take a known stress-relieving remedy. For some people, green tea and chamomile tea are effective stress remedies. For others, CBD is the answer, and you can find related products here. Natural stress-relief supplements can also be purchased from your local health store so pop in the next time you’re in town. 

These are things you can consume when your stress levels rise, although there are other ways to bring yourself to a level of calm, as can be seen below. 

#3: Get out of the house

When your house is your work environment, it can be difficult to switch off. And when you’re surrounded by your own four walls a day, it is natural that feelings of stress might escalate, especially when you haven’t been able to exercise. So, get out of the house and stretch your legs as your body will start to produce stress-relieving endorphins when you’re active. 

Being outside in the fresh air can also help to reduce your stress. If you can walk around places of natural beauty, such as your local park, you should also feel calmer. 

#4: Practice self-care

When you have finished work for the day, this is something you need to prioritise. What you do is up to you, but ways of practising self-care can include:

  • Take a relaxing soak in the bath
  • Meditate to calming music
  • Eat something healthy and delicious
  • Watch a movie you enjoy
  • Spend time with a relaxing hobby

Check out these other self-care ideas if you need further inspiration.

When you look after yourself in such ways your stress should melt away. So, do whatever works for you and add self-care into your daily schedule. 

Finally

Working from home has its advantages but it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows! So, follow these suggestions if you experience stress and look online for other ideas that could help you.