Tips for managing ‘COVID brain’ and fatigue while working from home

If you work in an office, chances are you’ve spent some time working from home this year.

And while there are a lot of benefits, like flexibility and reduced travel times, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing.

So what can we do to make the experience a bit better? And how can we bounce back when working from home has been more challenging than usual?

Fatigue and working from home

Over time, the length and quality of our sleep has reduced. There are multiple reasons, including worry, anxiety and stress.

There is no quick fix to sleep problems, but here are three tips that can help:

– Try meditation, mindfulness, controlled breathing or relaxation exercises before you hop into bed.

-Keep a regular bedtime and try to wake up at the same time each morning (if you can). 

-Avoid looking at your phone, computer or tablet for at least an hour before bed.

Finding control and autonomy in your day

Humans are not good with not having a sense of control. It contributes to stress, anxiety and can even lead to burn-out.

It’s why it’s more important than ever to try to regain some structure, routine and control around work.

Week to week, you need to create timetables, schedule in activities, create to-do lists. Having a really concrete plan of how to get through your day has been shown to be really powerful in reducing stress.

Remember to be gentle on yourself

Taking some time to reflect on all the things you have accomplished during this challenging year.

Even just sitting down and writing a list — what are the accomplishments you’ve had over the last six months? And reflecting on that。

That can be a really positive experience, and it can also enhance your level of resilience.