How to Work from Home and Look after Your Mental Health

This year has been full of uncertainty and change in many aspects of our day-to-day lives, and for a lot of us, our work lives have been no exception. For some people, the option of working from home has never previously been available but has now become a requirement, so it is more important than ever to make sure you are looking after your mental health.

This topic is very close to our hearts, so we wanted to give you some tips on how to keep your mind healthy.

Establish a new routine

No matter what type of job you have, there will be an element of routine in your day-to-day role and it’s really important to hold onto that structure when you start working from home. Now that your workplace (and potentially your job role) has changed, establishing a new routine can help you to feel more comfortable. Whether this be waking up at the same time every day, blocking out time in your calendar to do specific tasks, or even planning what you’re going to eat for lunch during the week, routine can often be an effective way to look after your mental health.

Check in with colleagues

Make sure you are talking to colleagues on a daily basis, even for a quick morning and afternoon check in to discuss how work is going. Working from home by yourself can feel very isolating, so you need to make sure you help yourself by keeping in contact with those you normally work with. Even if you’re used to working autonomously and don’t have a team, try your best to make contact with at least one person at work each day to keep those connections going. Even small amounts of human interaction will do wonders in helping you feel positive during the working week.

Make weekly plans

Depending on how you manage your workload, it can sometimes get a bit overwhelming when you’re left on your own with a long ‘to do’ list. We recommend setting yourself at least three objectives at the start of your day to tick off by the time you close your laptop. Make sure each objective is achievable to keep yourself motivated and feeling productive by the end of the day.

Don’t overwork

Whatever you do, make time for the things you love doing. It can be all too easy to work longer hours when you’re at home, but it’s important to set a time to switch off the laptop and stick to it. Working too much can often lead to lower productivity levels, and research shows that a healthy work-life balance creates happier employees and a better work ethic. Plus, you can use the time you’ve saved from commuting to and from the office on doing something you really enjoy, try not to see it as more time to send emails.

Listen to yourself

While our tips are all great ways of looking after your mental health when you’re working from home, a lot of us will still experience overwhelming feelings of anxiety and stress, and for some of us this could be a regular occurrence. We can’t emphasize how important it is to listen to your body and keep checking in on yourself. Reflect on what makes you feel more positive and what has the opposite effect, and work towards doing those things that make you feel better. If you are concerned about working from home and your mental health, make sure you speak to your manager about how you are feeling straight away.

We have a number of free resources that can help you look after your mental health while working from home, so please get in contact with our team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.