Most non-essential workers have either been placed on a furlough scheme or are working from home. Working from home can be a prolonged source of stress. The barriers between work and life are eroded, so it is harder for us to properly rest after work. 

You can create ‘rites of passages’ into and out of work. These are a set of behaviours and actions that ‘tells’ your mind that you are starting or stopping work. For people who work at a physical location, the daily commute often features as a rite of passage into and out of work. During lockdown, it is still possible to have a rite of passage into work:

• Create a set of behaviours for ‘entering’ work. This can be getting changed, filling up your water bottle, and switching on your work phone. Your set of behaviours can be what you like them to be, as long as you only do them when entering or exiting work.
• Maintain a separate workspace. If possible, dedicate a single room as your workspace. This creates a physical container for work and prevents it from spreading in other spaces that you typically associate with rest and relaxation. If this is not possible, keep a particular desk or seat as your workstation. Only sit here when you are working. Moving to and from your workstation becomes part of your rite of passage.
• Keep a strict work schedule. It can be tempting to start working later and finishing later when working from home. Equally, it can be tempting to work extra hours when at home. You should try to maintain the same working hours. Having a routine improves mental health because we know what to expect.
• Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Burning yourself out by working too much will not help.