How to Protect Your Mental Health When Working From Home.

Being sedentary for 7+ hours per day can wreak havoc on our bodies over time. Moreover, when stressed, our muscles hold onto tension and result in a vicious cycle of stress-induced muscle aches, to muscle-ache-induced stress. So, make sure to always take time out of your day to stop, stretch, go for a walk, or participate in any type of preferred exercise routine – the idea is to move your body and release some much-needed serotonin (your happy hormone).

Studies have continuously proven that as a social species, regular social interaction leads to happier and more fulfilled lives. We thrive in communities and as such, disconnection for long periods of time can be detrimental to our health and significantly impact our productivity levels. Whether it’s with your colleagues throughout the day, touching base with your manager or vice-versa, it’s important to stay connected with your team. With that said, great leaders know that happy team members lead to higher productivity levels and greater business outcomes, so keeping team morale up – especially during tough times – is a win-win. Here at Schibello, we can arrange staff care packages to assist with this. You can opt to send team members personalised coffee kits with your company logo and desired message included, and we’ll deliver them to each home address. We can even provide home brewing/barista training over zoom to help put those coffee kits to good use!

If you prefer to have regular coffee breaks on your own, that’s great too! Just be sure you schedule these in and follow through. It may not be news to know that caffeine does wonders for productivity and mood elevation, but more importantly, it’s taking the actual break that matters. So, whether you prefer decaf, teas, or hot chocolates over a caffeinated beverage, taking that short break can reset your brain and reduce the chances of making bad decisions. It can also restore motivation for long-term goals and increase creativity and productivity.

Beyond just scheduling your breaks, also schedule the rest of your day. As previously mentioned, much of the burnout that many are experiencing comes from the lack of separation between our work lives and home lives. It’s important to set boundaries and maintain them to be able to give optimal effort in each department (work and home) versus sub-optimal efforts across both. Get ready in the morning as you would to go into the office and start working at the same time. Make sure you’re taking those lunch/exercise/social/coffee breaks and similarly, clocking off at a set time every day. Be sure not to check your emails into the night and spend quality time with your family, housemates, pets and/or just yourself – the important thing is to prioritise rest, rejuvenation, and engaging in activities that recharge your batteries rather than drain them.

No matter what, remember that we’re all in this together. Keep your spirits high, fellow coffee lovers!