BY FELICE LOK

Melburnians working from home are trying to find ways to maintain a healthy work-life balance as lockdown puts a strain on their mental health.

Since March, many Australians have transitioned to working remotely from home with one in six reporting an increase to their work hours since making the transition.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics found 46 per cent of all Australians working from late April to early May were doing so from home. 

Senior Associate Consultant for Healthcare IT, Vanessa Cheung, has been working from home since March.

Ms Cheung said while the changes to her lifestyle were initially new and exciting, the novelty eventually wore off. 

“I think over time, you feel like there is a lack of freedom and you feel very stuck at home,” she said.

Living and working in the same place has also created issues maintaining a healthy balance between work and leisure time.

Ms Cheung said there is no obvious change in the environment to indicate when to ‘switch off’, leading her to often check emails after working hours. 

“I’m creating more anxiety and stress for myself and allowing myself to think about work more than I had previously,” she said.

She has found exercising and cooking dinner immediately after work has helped.

“Having planned activities and things to check off stops me from going back to my computer and continuously working,” she said. 

Manager of Mental Wellbeing at VicHealth, Irene Verins, said one of the biggest difficulties faced by individuals working from home is maintaining a balance. 

“Part of the challenge that everybody has been facing from working from home has been around the ease with which we can blur the line between work and other areas of our lives,” Ms Verins said. 

“That blurring is really complicated and complex.” 

Ms Verins said setting a strict yet adaptable routine can help workers manage a good balance. 

Identifying the most productive times for work or ‘switching off’ with a walk at the end of each day are ways to create a healthy routine.

“Apart from the routine of work that you establish, it’s really important to marry that alongside regular exercise and physical activity,” she said.

Monash University law and commerce student Fatima Ramtoola has also experienced increased stress after her part-time role as a swimming teacher came to a halt.

Since losing her one shift per week, Ms Ramtoola said she has put extra pressure on herself to study harder and is struggling to keep a balanced routine.

“I can’t switch off because I feel like I need to study to compensate for everything else that I’m not doing,” she said.

To reduce stress, Ms Ramtoola has begun planning her study time around activities in place of her work.

“I’m trying to plan my switch on time around my switch off time,” she said. 

According to SafeWork Australia, working from home can create psychosocial hazards which differ to those in the regular workplace and affect employee’s mental health. 

These hazards include isolation from colleagues and reduced support from supervisors and managers. 

“Talk to people, talk to colleagues, talk to your bosses. Share the fact that you might be having difficulties,” Ms Verins said.

She said resources such as Employees Assistance Programs may be available to employees who need to access health and wellbeing services. 

“There is no shame in acknowledging that you are struggling with this challenging time,” Ms Verins said.

If you or anyone you know needs assistance, call: 

Lifeline on 13 11 14

Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636

MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978

Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800

Helpful resources: 

Safe Work Australia: Mental health information for workers and employers

Black Dog Institute: Working from home checklist

Department of Health: Looking after your mental health during COVID-19 restrictions

DHHS Victoria: Information for businesses