Dedicate time to community service
Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2024 9:26 am
“I prefer coffee or lunch dates or phone calls, but sometimes a text is all I can manage,” Steiner said. “However, I make it a point to connect with at least one person in my personal life every day. Doing so helps me stave off loneliness like nothing else does!”
Pro tip: You can also schedule a virtual co-working space with close, non-work friends. Just be sure not to discuss or show anything that is confidential to your company.
HubSpot executive Dan Tyre says helping people in need is a great way gambling data korea to stave off loneliness while still giving back to the community.
“If people are depressed, sad, or lonely, I tell them to go serve people in need. Do good things for society,” he says. “Go to a soup kitchen, pet service dogs, spend time at a local school.”
Pro tip: Ask your company if they’d be interested in participating in or sponsoring any online charity events. This way, you’ll be doing something positive for your community and bonding with your coworkers for a good cause.
4 additional ways to protect your mental health when working from home
In order to explore more options to protect our mental health, we spoke with Dr. Willard, a psychologist, consultant and author specializing in mindfulness and positive psychology.
Below, we'll dive into Willard's tips for practicing mindfulness in stressful situations, avoiding burnout from too many virtual meetings, and finding moments of gratitude, even in difficult circumstances.
1. Practice mindfulness to focus on the present moment and feel calm in stressful situations
Most people don't turn to meditation when they're going through these situations. In times of stress and anxiety, they usually take the "get over it and get over it" approach, focusing on happier times ahead, without dwelling on the present moment.
Even though it's a common behavior, it often leads to more stress and anxiety, not less.
Dr. Willard suggests, "Between calls, take a break by taking five deep breaths or looking out the window and noticing the beautiful things you see. Drink your coffee with all five senses. Pay attention to five sounds you hear. All of these kinds of things really calm us down and bring us into the present."
Additionally, she says, "When you have more time, walk around your neighborhood without your phone in your hand, or take your calls standing or walking if possible." You can also practice mindfulness when you're relaxing on the couch or eating.
A chart explaining how to eat mindfully, which can help manage your mental health and remote work loneliness
On the other hand, Dr. Willard mentions that when we're stressed, our perception is often distorted. If you're feeling overwhelmed with thoughts like, "When will this end?" or "Will I be fired?" try rephrasing that sentence in the affirmative, i.e., "I'm thinking that ___."
This can help you gain some perspective and understand that while your thoughts may be making you more anxious or stressed, they may not be based in reality.
Finally, if you're interested in trying meditation, check out apps like Calm or Prezence that break meditation down into easy-to-tackle categories like "5 minutes to sleep" or "2 minutes to breathe."
2. I combated virtual meeting fatigue by alternating them with phone calls or reading real books or newspapers.
We all know the feeling of back-to-back Zoom meetings that leave us, within 2 or 3 hours, absolutely exhausted in a way that physical meetings never did.
If you're experiencing virtual meeting burnout, you're not alone. In fact, Zoom fatigue is common when working from home, but the good news is that there are ways to minimize it.
Pro tip: You can also schedule a virtual co-working space with close, non-work friends. Just be sure not to discuss or show anything that is confidential to your company.
HubSpot executive Dan Tyre says helping people in need is a great way gambling data korea to stave off loneliness while still giving back to the community.
“If people are depressed, sad, or lonely, I tell them to go serve people in need. Do good things for society,” he says. “Go to a soup kitchen, pet service dogs, spend time at a local school.”
Pro tip: Ask your company if they’d be interested in participating in or sponsoring any online charity events. This way, you’ll be doing something positive for your community and bonding with your coworkers for a good cause.
4 additional ways to protect your mental health when working from home
In order to explore more options to protect our mental health, we spoke with Dr. Willard, a psychologist, consultant and author specializing in mindfulness and positive psychology.
Below, we'll dive into Willard's tips for practicing mindfulness in stressful situations, avoiding burnout from too many virtual meetings, and finding moments of gratitude, even in difficult circumstances.
1. Practice mindfulness to focus on the present moment and feel calm in stressful situations
Most people don't turn to meditation when they're going through these situations. In times of stress and anxiety, they usually take the "get over it and get over it" approach, focusing on happier times ahead, without dwelling on the present moment.
Even though it's a common behavior, it often leads to more stress and anxiety, not less.
Dr. Willard suggests, "Between calls, take a break by taking five deep breaths or looking out the window and noticing the beautiful things you see. Drink your coffee with all five senses. Pay attention to five sounds you hear. All of these kinds of things really calm us down and bring us into the present."
Additionally, she says, "When you have more time, walk around your neighborhood without your phone in your hand, or take your calls standing or walking if possible." You can also practice mindfulness when you're relaxing on the couch or eating.
A chart explaining how to eat mindfully, which can help manage your mental health and remote work loneliness
On the other hand, Dr. Willard mentions that when we're stressed, our perception is often distorted. If you're feeling overwhelmed with thoughts like, "When will this end?" or "Will I be fired?" try rephrasing that sentence in the affirmative, i.e., "I'm thinking that ___."
This can help you gain some perspective and understand that while your thoughts may be making you more anxious or stressed, they may not be based in reality.
Finally, if you're interested in trying meditation, check out apps like Calm or Prezence that break meditation down into easy-to-tackle categories like "5 minutes to sleep" or "2 minutes to breathe."
2. I combated virtual meeting fatigue by alternating them with phone calls or reading real books or newspapers.
We all know the feeling of back-to-back Zoom meetings that leave us, within 2 or 3 hours, absolutely exhausted in a way that physical meetings never did.
If you're experiencing virtual meeting burnout, you're not alone. In fact, Zoom fatigue is common when working from home, but the good news is that there are ways to minimize it.