Managing workplace stress from a remote office

A few years ago, there was a suggestion to use the commute to and from work to shift focus and create separation between work and home. On the way in the morning, take time to clear your head from the morning breakfast chaos with your family and shift your headspace to the office. The trip home was a chance to breathe and try to push the stress and anxiety from workplace demands to the back and get set to focus on your loved ones. 

That’s a great technique, but for many people these days — the commute is a 30-second walk down the stairs or to the dining room table to open a laptop and dive in. There’s no separation and your family may still be running around the house when you start your morning meeting on Zoom. 

Stress levels are high

Workplace stress impacts all of us. It’s natural and for most people, it’s manageable. The American Psychological Association reminds us that, “everyone who has had a job has, at some point, felt the pressure of work-related stress.” 

But as we move into 20 months of predominantly working from home, workplace stress levels are high. We are distracted and short-tempered. We are struggling to focus. We aren’t practicing self-care. We are letting work touch every single day in some way shape or form. 

Stress can not only increase your likelihood of anxiety or depression but it can also impact your physical health such as increasing your blood pressure or heart rate and slowing down your digestive system.

So now what? 

The cause of workplace stress

Start by trying to get to the root cause of the workplace stress. Step back and over the next few weeks be more aware of stress triggers. Is there something happening consistently that is causing your stress levels to rise? Once you know what’s causing your stress you can begin to get a handle on it. 

One of the biggest sources of stress during remote working is the lack of boundaries. If you find yourself responding to emails at all hours, constantly checking your phone for updates and never really turning off your screens...this might be one of your root causes. Step back and set a schedule. It doesn’t matter if you’re working from home, you can still establish guidelines for work. Block hours into your calendar when you are available and as much as possible, avoid responding and engaging with work outside of those times. No one should be available 24/7. It’s stressful and unhealthy. 

While you’re blocking time in your calendar, set aside time for self-care. Whether that’s a morning gym workout, a midday walk or a 30-minute podcast break, incorporating time for wellness breaks into your day can reduce stress and directly impact your productivity when you get back to your desk. 

Stress isn’t a joke. It can be all consuming and impact every aspect of your lives. Workplace stress can affect both your colleagues and your loved ones. If you’re struggling to get a handle on stress, reach out for help.