With the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work has quickly become a solution being considered by many employers. Knowing that this way of doing things has now become our reality, how can we adopt good habits and take good care of ourselves? It seems like some people are going through the transition well, while others are caught off guard. At least 4% of the world’s population suffers from depression and 4% are affected by anxiety disorder (World Health Organization, 2017). For example, in Canada and Australia, the ratio 1 in 5 (20%) (Mental Health Commission of Canada [MHCC], 2011; Australian Bureau of Statistics [ABS], 2007) is frequently used to illustrate the proportion of the population likely to experience a mental illness or mental health problem within a year.
Remote work definitely does not mean sitting on your chair for 8 hours a day! Above all, you should not isolate yourself at home, but continue to have a social life. Here is a short list of tips that can help us break out of our daily habits and prioritize our well-being:
-Prepare healthy snacks to snack on. Drink lots of water and take your time for lunch.
-Sleep well, but above all get enough sleep.
-Do not forget about vitamin D at this time of the year.
-Use more active alternative to get to work such as cycling or walking.
-Plan short periods of physical activity during your day (Ex : working while standing, skipping rope and stretching during breaks, walking during meetings, etc.).
-Join a company sports team if available.
-Have virtual group activities to ensure good communication with your colleagues.
-Have a better balance between professional and private life through a flexible schedule and telemedicine.
-Take all leave and sick days offered by the employer.
-Ensure you have an ergonomic remote working office.
-Integrate the SMART objectives (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) of health and well-being into your professional objectives.
In order to better equip yourself with the job searching process and to better understand the job market, come and consult the Cible Retour à l’Emploi team.
Written by Irene Yan