Working Remotely During COVID-19

Food for thought: One in five people will experience a mental illness in their lifetime! This is according to Mental Health America. Now, more than ever, it is becoming more of a “big ugly giant” stomping around many people within your circles. It is important to see the signs and to support one another. 

Therefore, it is more than likely that someone in your team has been impacted especially since we are navigating uncharted waters with Covid-19. Many are working remotely full-time, isolated from co-workers, friends and family. Daily lives and routines are disrupted leading to added anxiety, stress and strain—physically, mentally, and financially. It is completely natural for this disruption and uncertainty to lead to anxiety and stress. Now more than ever, mental health must be made a priority.

To help remote employees manage stress and maintain good mental health, we’re sharing these tips you can implement in their day-to-day life.

1. Stay connected with your support systems such as your family, friends and coworkers FaceTime, Zoom, WhatsApp and Google Hangout.
2. Keep an eye on your surroundings and people around you, if something seems off – ask a question and offer support.
3. Create and maintain your schedule. Schedules strengthen your mental health by reducing the number of decisions you have to make in a day. 
4. Prioritize keeping your immune system strong by sanitizing and washing your hands, getting enough sleep eating well and staying hydrated and taking vitamins
5. Stay active even if you can’t go outside. Periodically, get up and move around your home. Try walking, stretching, planks or jumping jacks in your living room to reduce or alleviate stress and increase endorphins. Connect with someone online to motivate you! Teamwork always gives you an extra boost.
6. Engage in activities that bring you joy and distract you from existing challenges. Some activities that you may enjoy include journaling, reading, art projects, cooking with new recipes, breathing exercises, or listening to calming music. Experts say, 5 mins of dancing alone and singing to the top of your lungs as if no one is watching is a big stress reliever. 
7. Become an at-home chef, cooking is great therapy. Try new things and enjoy the flavours… top this off with some well-deserved dessert! 
8. Spring clean! This is always a good flush out of the cob-webbed stored items that you have been needing to throw out… come on, there is no need to be a hoarder! Extra bonus – you will feel cleansed! 

Time heals and we must stay close to our inner self, ensuring that we stay connected, stay alert and create a well-balanced lifestyle. 

The following numbers are listed to provide you with additional online mental health care information:

• Alive (Suicide Hotline): – 688-8525, 650-5270
• Lifeline (24 hour hotline):645-2800
• Families in Action: 628-2333
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-7283
• Rape Crisis Society of Trinidad & Tobago: North 627-7273; South 657-5355
• Children’s Authority: 800-2014 or 996
• Legal Aid:  625-0454
• Family Court: 627-8716/623-2631/624-1307
• Victim and Witness Support: 624-8853
• Child Guidance Clinic : 726-1324
• National Family Services Division:  624-8218 or 627-1163