A Doctor’s Take on Mental Wellness at Home

October 27, 2021

Editorial Team

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With more than a year on battling with COVID-19, working from home is no longer a new experience. Spending more time at home, be it for work or simply to stay away from the crowds, comes with its own set of challenges. If you are feeling lost, frustrated or stressed during this time, you are not alone. Dr Morrison Loh shares with us why we might be feeling this way and what we can do to keep the #stayhome blues away.

1. Why do many of us feel stressed out or even frustrated when staying home full-time?

Dr Loh:

In our daily lives, we play multiple roles at work, in the community and at home. By staying and working from home full-time, these roles are all collapsed into one. We need to be a parent, caregiver, employee or student, all at the same time. This can be very taxing to do, especially without additional support.

It is very natural for emotional stress to build up as we carry out all our tasks in the same space. To add on to that, there are still many uncertainties revolving around COVID-19. This can add on to background anxiety and compound the stress that we feel.

However, I believe that we are a resilient nation. We can adapt and work together to get through this period.

2. Some people have also mentioned feeling guilt over their frustrations. Why is this so?

Dr Loh:

The guilt could come from the fact that their frustrations stem from their loved ones. We are all only human, and it is difficult to govern how we feel. The emotions that arise within us are often beyond our control.

However, we do have a say about how we react to these emotions. New experiences can always be trying, but there are support channels both national and personal that you can reach out to if you need someone to talk to.

These avenues to release your tension and stress are vital, because guilt and frustration can be a vicious cycle that is not healthy for you, or those around you.

3. What are some things we do that actually feed our anxiety and worry?

Dr Loh:

The COVID-19 situation seems to be ever-changing. We have a natural tendency to want to find out everything we can about something unknown, because it is less scary if we can understand it.

Finding out facts and data can indeed alleviate some of our worries. However, because there is an overwhelming amount of unverified data on the internet, this can backfire and cause unnecessary fear and anxiety.

4. What can we do to keep the #stayhome blues away?

Tip 1: Stay connected and maintain your social networks

Dr Loh:

Even though we are physically distant, that does not mean we need to be disconnected.

We have many different ways to stay in contact with our loved ones and friends, from video-calls, messages, emails to social media.

Maintaining our social interactions is important for us, especially if we are living alone, to have avenues for communication and support.

Here’s a reminder of some activities you can do with your family and friends to stay connected:

Schedule a group exercise session together over a video-call
Hangout online to chat
Set-up a support group to share any struggles or strategies
Have a Netflix party together!

Tip 2: Keep to a regular routine

Dr Loh:

Daily rhythms are important for our mental wellbeing. By keeping to our usual routines, we restore some semblance of normalcy and order to our daily lives.

Try your best to wake up and go to sleep at fixed times and stick to your usual work schedule as far as possible. It can be easy for boundaries to blur while working from home, and this could lead to burnout.

Set time limits to your working hours and tasks to avoid being overwhelmed, and be sure to give yourself time to unwind.

Some things you can do:

Engage in “boundary-crossing” activities such as getting ready for work in the morning as per usual, to switch your mind to “work-mode” and vice versa
Assign one person to start morning greetings at an appropriate time to kick-off the workday routine
Log off from work after working hours and focus on other activities instead

Tip 3: Engage in healthy activities that you enjoy and find relaxing

Dr Loh:

Pay attention to your own needs and feelings, and give yourself space to unwind. This is especially important during times of stress.

Exercising regularly and eating healthily can also give you a mental boost.

You can also pick up something you’ve always wanted to do or learn some new skills that you are interested in as a hobby such as cooking or gardening (you can find 7 health benefits of gardening here).

Try to keep everything in perspective to have a healthy body and mind.

Tip 4: Minimize exposure to news about COVID-19 that causes you to feel anxious

Dr Loh:

With so much information about COVID-19 going around on the internet, it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction.

If you experience anxiety or worries from the constant bombardment of media, try to take a step back and only check for updates once or twice a day.

Seek information only from trusted sources, such as local and global health authorities, to ensure that you have the right information to act upon.

Here are some other methods you can adopt:

Do not follow every media channel. Choose one or two official channels to subscribe to
Avoid forwarding any COVID-19 myths or news that have not been verified
Ask a friend or colleague to share relevant information privately if you feel overwhelmed

Tip 5: Find opportunities to amplify positive and hopeful stories

Amidst all the bad news, sharing simple stories of hope and kindness go a long way.

Spreading positivity around not only uplifts our mood, but inspires others to do the same. All of us are needed in this long war against COVID-19, and many have shown their compassion and empathy in these difficult times.

Tip 6: Protect yourself and be supportive to others

Dr Loh:

Assisting others in their time of need can have a positive psychological effect on both parties. Although we might not all be able to help out physically, checking up on our friends through a phone call or lending a listening ear to someone in need might be just the thing they need.

Do not hesitate to reach out if you need someone to talk to!