If you are finding it difficult to manage the stress of working from home, then you are not alone. So many people are in the same situation that you are in right now, but if you take the time to focus on your mental health as well as developing a lifestyle that supports it, then you will soon find that you are able to fight back smarter, stronger and faster than ever before.

Set a Schedule

Although it’s fantastic to be able to work when it suits you, you have to make sure that you create a full and intentional schedule as opposed to just working whenever you have the time. If you wait until you have the time, then this will work against you and you may even find that you end up falling behind on tasks as a result. A schedule will also benefit your children, as it will help them to better focus and be more productive when learning virtually from home.

Work when you Work Best

You need to work when you know you are going to do your best. So many people find that working in the morning is better than working at night as they feel rested and this means that they can be more productive in general. Others find that they work much better when they have done all of their other non-work-related activities, such as cleaning the house. In any case, there’s no harm in doing what works for you, just make sure that you combine it with the above point and set a schedule so you can stick to it. If you have child(ren) learning virtually from home, then set dedicated hours where you assist your children, and then specific hours when you focus on your own work.

Prioritize Challenging Tasks

Don’t let unpleasant or even difficult tasks hang over your head all day. If you do, then you may find that you end up creating stress whenever you think about them. If you can, push yourself to get the most difficult jobs done first so you can free up some of your mental energy for the rest of your day. If your child has a difficult homework assignment, and it’s causing them to worry- then work with them on that first. This will give you more satisfaction and you may even find that you feel better as a result.

Stay Connected

When you feel somewhat isolated, it can be very difficult for you to have the energy or desire you need to be productive. On top of this, it can also be difficult for you to carry on doing your best work. If you work from home and you are starting to feel alone, then now is the best time for you to start taking responsibility for your social life. Create a network of people who work from home or identify people in your life that are understanding and supportive and text or call them during the day. When you do, you will soon find that you feel connected again and feel less lonely. You may feel a bit silly notifying people of the way that you feel, but you should feel no shame whatsoever. It’s completely normal to feel this way when you spend so much of your day at home alone.