(Collaborative post) Working from home has become the new norm for many of us. Even with the easing of restrictions, some companies have opted to allow staff to work remotely part of full time. Working from home can be great and many of us and are taking full advantage. It’s great as we save money on commuting, can start earlier and finish earlier if our job is flexible and don’t have to worry about what we wear as much if we don’t have zoom meetings, etc. But, working from home can also have a negative side. We’ll explore this further and also look at Self Care Tips for those Long Days Working from Home.
Self Care Tips for those Long Days Working from Home
The Down Side to Working from Home
Many people couldn’t understand the negatives of working from home until they actually experienced it for themselves. Not having to leave your home in the morning to brave the rush hour is fantastic and saves a considerable amount of time and money. But, to simply turn off the computer when you are finished and sit and relax can be harder for some than they’d expected.
In theory, it sounds simple enough yet in practice, it isn’t quite as simple especially after a stressful day. Many haven’t been able to work from home in the past and we don’t all have our own office in our home or garden office we can close the door on and escape for the rest of the day. When you work from home you will find that you tend to take fewer breaks and a shorter lunch break. It can become pretty lonely after a while especially when you are used to working with a group of people. This is even more noticeable if you live alone.
Here are some self care tips that will help you cope with working from home.
Have a Set Routine
Although it sounds overly simple, having a clearly defined routine can help with the transition of work time to your personal time. Having a set time to start, for breaks, lunch and to finish will help you focus on your work as well as focus on your needs and help you unwind after your workday ends. Having a routine means you are more likely to follow it, not work overtime unless you want to and also be able to relax far better. This could include wearing work clothes that changing into something more comfortable when it’s clocking off time. I like to pop on a pair of women’s bed socks as some can be so soft and cosy and then get on with my evening.
Turn Off Work Devices
Switching off your computer can be a great way to push aside the work section of your day. Make sure you do it with all of your devices so you don’t get distracted by the ping of notifications. This is even more important if part of your work involves social media. It’s so easy to pick up your phone to check emails and notifications from socials so make sure you’ve either logged out of work accounts or turned off notifications for all that apply.
Phone / a Friend(s)
After you finish work why not grab the phone for a quick or long call with a friend. It’s a great way to move on from work to the relaxation part of your day. It’s also a good way to catch up and it benefits you both. Sit down, get comfy, grab a drink, snacks if it’s gonna be a long one, and get chatting and unwinding.
Play a Game
PLaying a game on the computer is a great way to switch off from work. Many an evening when I finish work I turn off my computer, sit in front of the tv and watch that whilst I play solitaire on my ipad. Ha, yes, I do like to multitask. My mind is overly active most of the time and I find that solitaire is a great way for me to relax as well as challenge myself to complete the game faster each time. It’s free to play and really good fun. The kids have loaded other games onto my device but to be honest Solitaire has been my favourite for years and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. I also find this is a great game to play on days I don’t work, hubby might say I’m a bit obsessed but then he can’t watch tv and play games at the same time so who’s he to judge.
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Organise Something Fun
Having something that you enjoy doing arranged for after work is sure to get you into a more relaxed state of mind. Arrange a trip to the movies, a meal out, drinks with friends, crazy golf, grab your walking socks and head off somewhere picturesque to get some fresh air and exercise with a friend or partner. You can do so many different things.
Do Things You Find Relaxing
I’ve not read a book since the last time I went abroad a few years ago. The other day I picked up a book, went to the park near my son’s school, sat on a bench, and read. I forgot what it was like to relax and read a book without the kids making a racket. Getting lost in a book is a great distraction from the world around us. It can transport us to so many different places. It’s not just reading that we can use to relax us, a mini pamper session with a face mask, scented candle, and bubble bath can be lovely. How about a movie night with all your favourite snacks! Some people find yoga, meditation or pilates great for unwinding. They can be great for everyone and really easy to do no matter how much space you have available.
Summary
These are just some of the great Self Care Tips For Those Long Days Working From Home that we should all look to incorporate into our lives. Not only will they help with our mental health they will also help our physical health by reducing stress levels etc. So make sure you start thinking about you and learn to switch off and relax after work.
What self care tips do you find help to relax you?
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Routines are the one thing that I have to do to stay sane while working from home! I just have to create a self care routine now!
It’s definitely not as easy as it sounds. Taking time for yourself is so important! I read every night before bed, it’s my best way to unwind at the end of the day.
Reading can be great. Reading before bed is a great way to unwind.
Working from home can be a challenge at times. Self care is so important.
It really is. We need to look after ourselves too!
You have some great tips here. I make sure to always make time to read. It helps clear my mind.
Reading can be really relaxing x
These are all wonderful tips, practicing self-care is so important.
It really is yet many don’t do it.
These are good tips for the new work from home norm. It is nice to be able to work from home, but there are also a lot of challenges as well.
There are many challenges but then there are many perks too.
Actually, working from can make you forget self care more than working the normal way. Hehe. Great tips.
It sure can and it’s sometimes when we need them most.
My friend works from home and does a great job of making sure she sets a part some time just for her to relax and do something fun. Today she met me for a pedicure.
That’s great to hear. Those that have a set routine find they get to relax after work much better.
I do turn off my work device once a day. I just play some music or cook my favorite food. It really helps with anxiety.
Cooking can be fun and a great way to relax.
Great tips I used to find it hard to switch off now I turn off my laptop at 5 and weekends, although still trying to work in a full lunch hour, but do have breaks during the day
It’s good to hear you have breaks at least. That can really make a difference.
Some really good tips thankyou it’s always good to make time for yourself
It can make a big difference to stress levels
Yes, I am working from home and I know how hard it can be! I really can’t have some time for me to relax!
These self-care tips are very helpful! I need this right now!
I try not make the days too long. I get up really early to get some work in before the kids are up and then shut down early but somedays it doesn’t work out like that.
It can be a bit up and down when you have children.
These are brilliant tips. I am woefully bad at practicing self care when working from home. I could easily just slob around but have to force myself to do things!
Once you get into the habit you’ll want to practise self care much more.
I feel more drained when working from home because of the number of hours that I have to clock in sometimes. Thank you for these tips!
It can end up with us working longer. We need to learn to manage our time better to make sure this doesn’t happen.
Self-care has become all the more important in the current circumstances. Working from home brings with it, its own challenges. Your tips are really valuable and make sense.
It does have challenges but the good thing is we can sometimes be flexible and work around these.
Though I’ll likely never work from home due to the nature of my profession, these tips seem legit.
I’m very lucky as I have an office so can separate my working space from my leisure space which is super important x
That’s great. It can make such a difference to have a separate workspace.
I love all these ideas. I think self care is so important. I personally love to read, so that is one of the things I do to take time for myself.
Me too but I tend not to have enough time. I can have a story playing when I drive which is good.
Great post! I love the idea of organizing something fun that you can look forward to either between the work or after the work.
Me too, and there are sooooo many options!!!
Great and timely post, it is true all these self-care tips are important when working from home!
They can make a difference in how we feel and cope.
Fab tips here. For me, a good book, music, a hot cuppa hot chocolate will relax me and get me the break I need from my hectic life.
Sounds perfect for relaxing!
These are all wonderful self care tips and I can definitley use them all 😉 It is hard working from home and I never take a break it seems so you are right on so many points here. Thanks for sharing these wonderful tips and will be back!
I usually talk to my gf on the phone away from the office for a break. And it makes me feel better. Great tips!
It’s nice to take breaks to recharge and get away from work briefly.
I’m so happy that I don’t have to work from home anymore. For me it was very challenging because I had a feeling I was working all the time.
It can be really hard. I think many were pleased when offices started to open again.
Great tips! I will have a very heavily loaded work week and I will surely need a good rest too
It’s sometimes hard to juggle everything. Good luck Lyosha x
thanks so much! it might be hard sometime but I’d never want to change that
It is important to practise self-care.
I definitely needed to read this so thank you! As you mentioned above, everyone thinks working from home is amazing but it can also be very lonely, isolating and long hours too as its almost impossible to switch off sometimes. I definitely think making some time for yourself every week is important, even if its just for a long bath and face mask or even just an early night! xx
It can definitely be hard to turn off when you are working from home, so easy to just sit and fiddle and do things all day long. It’s good to have a routine of something that ends the day and then do something else and don’t go back I think.
It can make a big difference to our mental health.
That was really great. I really needed that given the fact that I work on my blog for hours every single day.
Oh dear, you too. It can be very absorbing and easy to forget to take breaks.
I have to have a set routine or I will be chaotic. LOL, A set routine really helps me stay organized.
Great tips! I always include something relaxing and fun in my day such as sitting outside for 30 minutes and reading!
That’s great to hear. It doesn’t have to be long, 30 minutes of reading can work wonders.
Great list! I need this right now. I guess working from home really does have its ups and downs.. what’s important is we get to do something about the down sides, to turn it to our advantage. It’s doable!
It sure is. Looking after our mental health can help make it much easier.
Working from home will be nice at the same time it is cons too. Thanks for sharing this tips. This make work from home easy.
That’s very true. But if we practise self care it can make a difference to how we feel.
These are really very helpful tips for people who work from home. I am surely gonna use these for myself too
I hope they help x
Melanie, such a timely post. I would have to follow these tips since long working hours are affecting me. I have been neglecting a lot of things due to my long working hours
I think many of us fail to take enough care of ourselves.
I badly need this and yes, I agree with you that it’s a great idea to do things I find relaxing. I would love to take some time off and just read a book. I long bubble bath with scented candles and all sounds exciting right now. Thank you for sharing these self-care tips.
I think most of us need to practice more self care.