Nobody could have imagined how 2020 would turn out, and while many of us are slowly easing back into normal life, others are still navigating the new normal. Despite the reopening of offices, remote work has become a reality across the world, with many companies seeing a rise in productivity due to the freedom and flexibility that WFH can bring.
But what are the downsides to logging on from home? “Under normal circumstances, isolation is not a natural state of human existence, since we are wired to be socially connected with others and foster a sense of belonging,” says Dr Vedrana Mladina, clinical psychologist and senior wellness counsellor at NYU Abu Dhabi. A prolonged period away from the office can therefore make us withdrawn, overwhelmed and anxious. And not being able to separate work and home can lead to longer hours, burnout and stress. With the novelty of working-from-home fading, now is the perfect time to reset and readjust — here's how to create a happy and healthy space to work in.
Think about what is going on right now, and don’t let you mind wander into the future. You can control what you eat, how much exercise you do, what you wear, what music you listen to, who you choose to speak to, and what your topic of conversation will be. This gives a sense of order and stability, and stops us fixating upon things we have no control over.
