We have been living in this pandemic scenario for the last two years, even though it seems less time has passed. This period comes up with an unprecedented challenge, as the world's population has been dealing with a global health emergency that has never been seen before.
People faced the urgency of national lockdowns, far from family and friends for months, and the only "human contact" they could possibly have was through digital devices.
At first, spending time at home felt like a small holiday but as the weeks went by this feeling changed.
People passed from singing out of their balconies, like it happened in many countries such as Italy, France and Spain, to feel like a community, to locking themselves in their homes for fear of an invisible virus.
Everyone to some degree expected that it would all be over very quickly, but it wasn't. 2022 has moved its first steps, but even if almost the entire population is vaccinated, the virus is still circulating.
Since the discovery of Sars-Cov-2 millions of people have been infected by it. Unfortunately many died, while others began to suffer from depression and stress, two other invisible consequences that attacked humans.
One of the reasons why many people developed these disorders is because of working from home. Women and men all over the world found themselves working alone in their living rooms.
Initially, it may seem like a pleasant novelty: the alarm clock being postponed, no delays due to traffic and avoiding crowds on public transport at rush hours.
It seemed like a dream that after a while turned into a nightmare for many.
According to recent studies, more than half of workers in the EU are negatively affected by work-related stress.
So, how to cope with pandemic stress?
1. Exercise
According to studies, physical activities reduce stress. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 15 minutes of exercise a day, such as short active breaks during the day, walking (in nature if you can), standing up every 30 minutes, meditating or following an online exercise class.
2. Do not focus too much on Covid-19 related news
Look for factual news from trusted sources and set a time when you read them. Discuss with others about the news and your worries. Another tip is to read more positive news and share it, as this can help you reduce stress and have more positive thoughts.
3. Work-life balance is important
As said before, many people cannot work well from home, because they are stressed due to isolation and virtual communication issues. Letting your work life overcome your private life can have a negative impact on your mental health. So you should divide them. Set fixed times for work and when you are not on the clock turn off work-related notifications and relax.
4. Reach out to the others
Working from home can feel very isolating, so go out and meet people. When we talk with friends or family members we share emotions and feelings and this helps to decrease stress levels. You should try to meet at least one person each day.
5. Be an empathetic team worker
Also, most of the people working from home are part of a team. You should maintain a relationship with other team workers. You can have a virtual meeting with your colleagues to discuss the work to be done, but also to talk while taking a break.
Do you know how to keep your team together? Share your tips by putting a comment to our post!
Last but not least, you can enjoy our unique Virtual Experiences with your team, such as our virtual escape rooms and many more! You can solve enigmas, boost team cohesion and engagement and have a lot of fun with your colleagues and superiors.
Check our website to find out more!
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