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Wellbeing Wednesday: Tips for working from home

June 30, 2021

If you are working from home your personal wellbeing remains important. Consider how we can support you with your personal wellbeing, physical health and mental health.

  • Plan a routine: It’s good to have a plan, so try to stick to the same routine each day as this helps you to have a start and finish to your day and balance your home/work life.
  • Your workspace: Consider a clear plan to make it easy to separate work from home life. Have a system for ending your day; so hide or cover your laptop and pack away your equipment rather than looking at it in your leisure time.
  • Don’t forget to take a break and stay connected: Connect with your colleagues. You could consider a 10 min WebEx coffee break together or do similar at lunchtime and have a lunch break together. Some teams plan a mindful Monday, or a fun Friday zoom, plan a short WebEx with your team to have a laugh, share your thoughts and start and end your week positively.
  • Are you sitting well? Improve your ergonomics – stretch your body, improve your posture: It is great for your physical and mental health if you are able to stand up and stretch once an hour. If you are unable to do this move away from your keyboard and stretch from your chair or sitting position. Check your computer is at eye level not flat on your table, this supports your neck and body. And every 20 mins look away from your screen to stretch and improve your eye muscles.
  • Be kind to yourself: Don’t forget to switch off mentally and turn off your computer at the end of your day. Whether you are working from home or in the office you are working hard and contributing, so be kind to yourself and if no one else is there to do it say well done to yourself.
  • After work – re-energise: Exercise and chat with a friend or try some online exercise, walk and talk, connect with people and take in the beautiful scenery and nature around, plan a nice meal.

Additional support, if you need to talk to someone in confidence:

  • Counsellors: The NHS direct counselling service: 0800 06 96 222 (7am – 11pm, 7 days a week)
  • Bereavement support:0300 303 4434 (8am – 8pm)
  • Trouble sleeping:Click here for help and guidance
  • Just need a confidence conversation?  Book a one to one at the wellbeing sanctuary by calling 0121 507 5886
  • REACT practitioners: Talk to colleagues who have been trained to have a confidential conversation with you near to where you work. Email wellbeinghub@nhs.netto find out who is your nearest REACT practitioner
  • SHOUT service: Text SHOUT to 85258 confidential TEXT support
  • Chaplaincy team: All our chaplaincy team are trained listeners and people who care for you. You can email mary.causer@nhs.net or call either 0121 507 3552/4055 or 07972 572854 to get in touch with the team