Wellbeing Wednesday: Tips for working from home

December 1, 2021

If you are working from home your personal wellbeing is of paramount importance. 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 each day as this helps you to have a start and finish to your day.

• 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 fun Fridays – Stay connected

Connect with your colleagues. If you are in your office, you could consider a 10 min Microsoft Teams 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 Microsoft Teams 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 minutes look away from your screen to stretch and improve your eye muscles.

• Be kind to yourself

Don’t forget to switch of 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 friend or try some online exercise
  • https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/get-active/home-workout-videos/
  • Walk and talk connect with people or someone and the beautiful scenery and nature around
  • Plan a nice meal
• Look after your wellbeing “every mind matters” https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/

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

 The Wellbeing Sanctuary ‘a place of calm’ we can support you:

• You can book a confidential conversation at The Wellbeing Sanctuary by calling 0121 507 5886
• Connect your with your local REACT practitioner by calling 0121 507 5886
• Occupational health, access to counselling support by calling 0121 507 3306
• On Connect you have access to the speak up guardians
• NHS an external confidential counselling number 0800 06 96 222 (7am – 11pm)
• Chaplaincy team: All trained listeners and people who care for you – email mary.causer@nhs.net or call 0121 507 3552/4055 or 07972 572854
• Speak to your doctor