5 ways to boost your mental health as a remote worker
Zara Kaleskova, our UI Designer and Developer, has been working remotely for years now. During this time, she has become an expert on how to take care of her mental health when working fully remotely.
At the time of writing, New Year’s resolutions are a hot topic. If you haven’t yet decided on yours, and if you work remotely, we recommend yours should be to pay close attention to your mental health. Nothing is more important than taking care of your well-being. If this rings true for you, keep reading as Zara shares a few tips and tricks on the subject!
In the past few years, working from home became the norm for many people. This new way of living, although a bit exciting in the beginning, can affect your mental health in the long term if not done right. Mental health is just as important as your physical health, so here are a couple of tips that can help your well-being when working remotely.
1. Have a dedicated workspace
When you spend a big part of your day at home, it becomes important to have different locations that support different aspects of your lifestyle. As appealing as it is to just wake up and start working in bed, studies have shown, in the long term, this habit could interfere with your quality of sleep. Working and sleeping are two different states of mind and if mixed, could lead to problems in both. When having a separate work area, you can improve your productivity and physical health by having more natural light and maintaining an ergonomic position.
Did you know: Aico supports their employees’ ergonomic well-being by contributing to their home office set-up? We supply all the office equipment that you might need to have the most comfortable workspace. This includes a desk, chair, monitors, keyboard and mouse as well as personal customizations like, for example, standing mats.
2. Set time for outdoor activities and hobbies
One of the best ways to improve mental health as a remote worker is to make sure you spend time outdoors to recharge and reduce stress. Exposure to sunlight and practising sports are proven methods of boosting serotonin release and keeping you happy and calm. Additionally, making time for your favourite hobbies helps to increase your dopamine levels and makes you more motivated and satisfied with your lifestyle.
Did you know: At Aico you are encouraged to take your meetings outside as long as you are not required to present anything on your laptop. Listening in while enjoying a nice daytime walk is one way to ensure that you get a breeze of fresh air and see the sunlight, especially during the wintertime. In Finland, Aiconauts may choose to have a sports and culture card as their annual benefit. The card can be used for a wide variety of sports and cultural activities according to personal preferences.
3. Plan a routine
One of the most challenging things to do when you first start working from home is establishing a routine. In order to get into a good state of mind every morning, planning your day ahead of time could do wonders. Waking up at the same time, having a good breakfast and setting goals for the day, can not only add structure to your day, but also support focus and peace of mind. Some might even add a short walk around the block to their daily routine to emphasize their transition from home to work.
Did you know: At Aico one gets to enjoy plenty of freedom and flexibility. We can choose where we work (is it from the office, home or to help us visit family who live further away) and are allowed flexibility in work hours. This way everyone can structure their days to better accommodate personal preferences and improve their work-life balance.
4. Connect with people
Working from home can be pretty isolating at times, so maintaining a good connection with other people is crucial for your mental health. Without social activities in the office, sharing ideas, collaborating on projects and establishing personal connections with your teammates is a bit more challenging. However, many tools can help you keep in touch with your colleagues nowadays. Making an effort by having regular calls or the occasional trip to the office, can help you build those relationships.
Did you know: Aico helps you improve your mental health by having online social events every week and month, allowing remote workers to connect with colleagues in an informal setting. During these virtual get-togethers, there is only one rule: no shop talk. Knowing the people you work with on a deeper level significantly improves the cooperation and communication between individuals. In addition, Aico tries to organise company-wide events on an annual basis where everyone joins in person. Because in the end, nothing can fully replace physical interaction between teams and meeting people face to face.
5. Look after your physical health
Mental and physical health go hand in hand, and if one is affected badly the other suffers, too. Looking after your physical health can help you avoid problems with mental health. Having regular health check-ups, remembering to move your body throughout the day and listening to its signals when you’re not feeling well, can greatly improve your mental health.
Did you know: To support the health of Aiconauts, Aico has extensive healthcare and accident insurance in place. This includes, for example, health check-ups, blood tests and specialist doctors.