mental health | Kathy Husser | Librarian & Entrepreneur

Staying focused and engaged while working remotely might be a challenge to some. Others find remote work the best advantage of navigating a global pandemic. Read on for easy habits to make remote working manageable and encourage a healthier lifestyle for you and your family.

Be Mindful

Being mindful is a simple concept, and basically you need to be in the moment. Easier said than done sometimes, especially if you are also homeschooling or have other responsibilities. You need to complete one commitment or task at a time. Be mindful of priorities throughout your day. In addition, turn off your brain at night. Being mindful and doing a “brain dump” at night is essential. I’m talking about emptying your negative thoughts each night before bed. This will go a long way for a healthy mind and body for the next day.

Find a Passion

Is your job your passion? You are not alone; many people say, no, not really! If you need a passion or purpose to wake up in the morning, find one. Many workers at home are finding other outlets to offset the lack of a passionate connection to their work. Think about art, a pet, or some even work two jobs. This sounds incredible, but many have success at two jobs to help with remote work engagement and financial security. I am not asking you to go find another remote job. I am advocating that you need another outlet for happiness other than your work. Go out there and find it.

Set Boundaries

Going into an office, your work hours, business tasks, and lunch breaks are dictated. Depending upon your company, you are the one to decide when tasks and emails get done. Setting healthy boundaries for your work hours, answering emails, and taking time for yourself is crucial. No one at home will tell you when to eat, take a break, or get off email. You need to decide a sound schedule and stick to it. Self-care is so important as we have less socialization with remote working during the pandemic.

Be Flexible

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that remaining flexible and open to new opportunities is beneficial. Having clear expectations from your employer is needed. However, resilient workers who are positive, and see problems as challenges are happier. You make more sound decisions, and you can handle difficult situations better when you’re flexible.

Take some time and find new ways to help grow in your remote job and let me know how it’s going.

The world is entering the third year of the pandemic. We all have had to adapt to a new way of living and have more stress. Whether it’s from remote work, a new job, or online school, stress relievers are more important an ever. Continue reading for habits that are easy to use to relieve day to day stress.

Get Out in Nature

Taking a quick walk around the block or morning jog in a park will help your mental health. Research has proven that two hours a week in nature increases your cognitive abilities and your physical wellbeing. It can be as easy as enjoying your coffee on the balcony. Looking at the trees and green spaces on your walk to work is another easy fix. The stress release from doses of daily nature, crosses ethic groups and demographics. So get out there and get some daily “green.”

Pet Ownership

The health benefits you get from having a pet are too many to list. Pet owners experience less depression, reduced blood pressure, and survive chronic illness than non-pet owners. Whether it’s a dog, cat or gerbil having another animal to care for is a great stress reliever. The time commitment and cost of owning a pet are present, but the health benefits are huge. Older people also experience a sense of purpose and companionship with a pet. Cats are more independent and easier to care for than dogs. Make sure you do your research before making a commitment.

Controlling Your Emotions

Finally, this is easier said than done, but controlling your emotions will greatly benefit your health. Referred to as your emotional intelligence, increasing this trait has many benefits. At work, with your family, having a greater self-awareness is important. This benefits your mental and physical health as well as your personal and professional relationships. Practicing self-control, emotional control, and decision-making skills enables you to handle life’s up and downs. If you were raised in a household that didn’t acknowledge emotional health or feelings, this will take practice. Check for self-care programs and talk to friends to increase your awareness and skills.

The first step in relieving stress is to acknowledge it and then make small changes. Being more resilient and adaptable in life is a must these days. Best of luck in your journey.