The COVID-19 pandemic and quarantining have definitely worn some of us pretty thin, as home became more than home. It became work, school, daycare, and more. There isn’t a true outlet anymore with gyms, movie theaters, and restaurants forced to stay close during lockdown. If facilities do open again ‚Äî as we have seen on and off ‚Äî they usually return in some minimalist capacity.

This work from home (WFH) “new normal” has a tremendous impact on mental health for some, dealing with new kinds of anxiety, stress, and depression.

Therapy During COVID

The truth is that working from home is actually hurting the mental health of employees, as surveys find that professionals are feeling isolated at the home office with no true delineation between work life and home life.

The coronavirus pandemic has limited the amount of in-person appointments and meetings we are allowed to take, which has led to some psychotherapy patients to rely on telemedicine for talking to their psychiatrist or therapist. Bruce Rubenstein M.D., a board-certified psychiatrist, is among those mental health professionals emphasizing telemedicine during these times, setting up a video conference with patients to speak to them from the comfort of their own home.

The telemedicine process is not too far off from going into your doctor’s office like you did before the coronavirus changed things up. Mental health professionals will start with a consultation to ensure your needs are properly met. That’s followed by completing some forms and setting up a profile to access whatever outlet, like Zoom or Teladoc, is utilized for an online appointment.

This can expand to obstetrics, gynecology, and other medical consultations beyond mental health, all with an emphasis on giving the best care possible even if it is through a computer.

Make Self-care a Priority

The truth is that working from home, and mixing business and day-to-day life, has rendered some of us forgetting to take care of ourselves. Workers can get burnt out much easier than before since there is no true deviation.

Self-care comes in a variety of ways, but it is of the utmost importance to shut the door on the WFH environment while you take this time for yourself. For some, it’s as simple as giving yourself a manicure with press on nails rather than using nail glue, or it could be a DIY home improvement project that transforms your home into an oasis that will help you to escape from the day-to-day of working from home.

Mindfulness is sometimes the best solution to close yourself off from conference calls and projects. Be sure to practice deep breathing exercises, and limit interaction on social media, as this can sometimes trigger stressors in your life.

Dressing the Part

While staying in your hoodie and sweats may have become the comfortable route while being forced into the WFH lifestyle, you can still dress stylishly even if you’re working from home. While it may be comfortable to just rely on loungewear, don’t be afraid of some bold outfit ideas like flashier colors and some color coordination. Sweaters and blazers are also a great option if you want to keep that comfortable feeling, while not feeling as though you are going overboard with how you dress when operating through a laptop.

Some professionals have found that separating your work wardrobe from the pajamas and sweatpants we’re accustomed to can help avoid the lagging exhaustion some feel in adjusting to the “new normal.”

The whole package of working from home is taxing and, hopefully soon, it won’t be as much of a prevalence in our day-to-day life. A better way of life is right around the corner, but remember, you are not alone in feeling alone right now. It is okay not to be okay.