A Great post on the cost of mental illness. As high as the cost to treat it are the cost of not treating is even higher.
Cost of mental health.
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Category Archives: Commentary
You know your manic when–
Here is a really good description of one type of mania.
The ambulance at the corner
By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Licensed Counselor.
Ambulance.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.
The ambulance at the corner.
There was an ambulance at the corner this morning. I almost missed it, but I had to stop for the light. I glanced over to see what they were doing. The light might change at any moment.
There was a homeless man I had seen at that corner before. The brick wall by the gas station shielded him from view. I saw his shopping cart on the sidewalk. The ambulance was parked just beyond. That nameless homeless person was motionless on his blanket, there on the sidewalk with the EMT’s all around.
There was a woman standing nearby holding the leash to her dog. She was staring at the homeless man, lying there so still. We don’t see a lot of homeless people in this part of town. Down on the south side, we see them, but not out north. Lately the homeless are coming farther north, or did he use to live here. Are people up north starting to be homeless also?
While I watched the paramedics rolled the man over. He didn’t seem to move. I wondered was he dead, was he unconscious? Maybe he was mentally ill. Most of the street people are mentally ill. Maybe he was a drug addict, lots of them are homeless. Maybe he was both mentally ill and homeless – or not.
A house near me is vacant. They lost it to foreclosure. This used to be a good neighborhood, middle class, and full of promise, now there are more for sale signs than residents. There are also lots of houses that sit empty, we all know they have been empty for a very long time, just the banks haven’t put the for sale signs, the “someone’s dreams died here” sign, on them yet.
Maybe that homeless man with the shopping cart was the man who used to live on the corner. His house went into foreclosure. Then his wife and kids left, gone to live with her parents. They said he drank a lot and then he was gone.
So I wondered who this unmoving man was by the corner. Why did he go to sleep on the sidewalk last night? Did he die of an overdose or of exposure? Was he just unconscious? They should try to revive him so he could – So he could what, come back to sleep behind the brick wall by the corner?
I have to hold on to hope. Somehow we will find a way to help those who are homeless, those who are addicted, those whose mental illness has taken them from family and friends. But the hope seems fainter now, looking at that man lying on the sidewalk as I wonder what in his life went wrong.
It would be reassuring to think that being homeless and sleeping on the sidewalk only happens to bad people, people who deserve it. But I know from my own experiences that bad things sometimes happen to people who work hard and try their best. If only I could say he deserved his fate I might not feel so afraid and venerable.
Why do the homeless seem so old, so old and young? Living on the street ages you. I know that. And there are more seniors who can’t pay their bills now. Why didn’t someone help him? But I know that there is less money now for any sort of help for people, less than we used to have. We needed the tax cuts for businesses to create jobs and now there is less money for people who don’t work.
Is all that stuff on my shopping list really that important? Do we really need more stuff? What does it say about me that I live in a society that appears to values things more than people? Did some abstract thing called a recession cause this or was it a bursting housing bubble that was the cause? Or did this happen because I and people like me stopped caring about other people? I wondered what I should do.
And then the light changed.
Staying connected with David Joel Miller
Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!
My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.
Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.
Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.
As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.
Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.
Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.
Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.
Planned Accidents The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.
Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.
What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?
Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.
For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller
Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.
For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel
Warning – Gremlins are hiding in the send button!
By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Licensed Counselor.
Internet.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com
Why do emails suddenly change after you click send?
Mine keeps doing that. I am getting worried. I need to find a solution to this issue. The email message looks perfect. Nothing underlined in red. Not even a smidgen of green or purple. But let me click send and the whole message changes color and the misspelled words appear. What could be causing this?
I thought there must be something wrong with my computer. So I began my search. It took a while but now I have the proof. My suspicions have been confirmed. There is something wrong with my computer. I don’t want to scare you but this could happen to you also.
It does not appear to be a computer virus. I have checked for all the usual symptoms. No part of my computer’s anatomy is hot to the touch. There are no noxious fluids leaking from any orifice. These are the usual signs of illness in family members and I checked them all first.
Now I know that computers are not flesh and blood but it is reassuring to know that I have ruled out that possibility, still, the problem persists.
When my cat gets sick I take her to the vet. The veterinarian was no help with the computer problem. His commuter is doing the same thing mine is. He referred me to a specialist.
An x-ray of the computer failed to detect anything hiding inside that did not belong. The specialist was baffled. At least that is what I think his email said. Much of it was misspelled and run together. His computer seems to have caught the virus. Can you catch an email virus by sending an email? Checking – Checking.
Carefully I have reviewed my email list. There seem to be some really sick people on the list.
Now I am not talking about clients, I expect them to have problems. But the sickest people on my email list were colleagues. I am especially fearful of anyone with a Ph.D. I have placed their email addresses in quarantine but the problem continues.
If it was just an occasional misspelled word I could cope with it. But the transposed letters have caused some embarrassment, especially when I send them to my boos. He was especially unhappy with once sentence that was supposed to read – not- and the gremlin changed to – Nut. People are also upset with things that come out like “some time of a problem.” The one where I said I was “thinging about you,” also caused some problems.
Now I have always had difficulty with initial sonsonant counds. Ever since I first learned the story of Finder Cella and the Sgly isters and the Chince Parming mhe seets at the dancy fress ball. Some people call these spoonerisms, others call them mtupid sistakes. But my computer problem seems to be worse than that.
Other people’s computers are speaking a language like “newspeak.” They have words like U for you and LOL for launch our litigation – or something like that. I might be able to cope with learning a new language to be able to email but my computer just is not fat consistent.
I type out the word You – that is clearly what I mean. It looks right – I click send – and now it says ou or Tou or even Uou. Who keeps changing the letters?
Whne I typ nto it comes out not and ot is transposed inot to. It is al merry confusing.
For a while, I thought it might be the mouse. I got one of those new wireless ones. Ever since I got it the cat has taken to sitting on top of the computer and watching the mouse. They yesterday the mouse disappeared. The cat is looking awfully proud of herself but the self-transposing letters continue. I am chalking it up to gremlins.
A quick search of the internet shows that I am not the only one who has suffered an infection of gremlins. Apparently, American Motors Corporation (AMC) had some Gremlin connection from 1970 to 1978. I didn’t read the whole article but I doubt that that Gremlin and the one in my computer are in any way connected.
Still, I thought the severity of this problem required me to warn you.
So should you receive an email from me, or read a blog post in which the letters seem to have been rearranged to make them more nonsensical than usual, you will know it was not my fault. The gremlin did it.
I hope this gremlin warning made you smile. Happiness it one of the greatest cures for much of what ails us. So what makes you happy? How might you achieve a happy life? Till next time.
Staying connected with David Joel Miller
Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!
My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.
Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.
Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.
As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.
Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.
Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.
Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.
Planned Accidents The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.
Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.
What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?
Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.
For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller
Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.
For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel
Which foods have joined a group?
By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Licensed Counselor.
Food.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com
When did Chocolate become a food group? I like that idea. At one point in time, during World War II there were seven groups. Eventual three groups got kicked out when the foods formed a pyramid. For a while, there were just four foods in the group.
What are those four food groups again?
I thought I knew the four food groups, apparently not. This food science major told me that the four main food groups are – this is important now – are you ready? Sugar, salt, fat, and chocolate. This was good to know as I daily consume lots of these items. She explained that these are the items manufacturers add to make food taste better. Why can’t good tasting also be healthy?
One of my clients told me they were making more money these days and could afford to buy all the four food groups now. They are now eating Beef, Pork, Fish, and Chicken.
There are vegans among us. They suggest that there are a variety of ingredients to eat that will increase our health while being humane and healthy. Most of these ingredients are substances I can’t spell or pronounce.
The Plant Protection Society says many species of plants are endangered. The way to preserve them – eat more animals! I just can’t win.
Somewhere along the road to this millennium the powers that be tried to change the four food groups I learned back in school into a taller, shorter, fatter, pyramid. In the process, a lot of people seem to have gotten confused. I am one of those people. The intent, I am guessing, was to convince us that we should eat more of some food groups than others. This worked well for me, I started eating more chocolate. Then my pyramid typed over.
Worse yet some of the foods on my pyramid have been indicted for assaulting our health. Remember when eggs were bad? And what about Coffee – is it a food group? I wish it was. For a long time, coffee was on the most wanted list, we were not supposed to drink it. Didn’t they tell us it stunted our growth? I drank a lot of it but my waist grew anyway. Then we heard that coffee had received a presidential pardon because of its efforts in fighting cancer. So far homeland security has not weighed in on the status of coffee. Is it a legal alien?
Well, whatever food groups you chose to engage with this holiday season, try to make peace with them. You will have to live with the things you eat this year throughout most of next year. From looking down at my waist, foods from several decades past still like me and are along for the ride.
Here is wishing you a happy, healthy, and enjoyable year to come.
Staying connected with David Joel Miller
Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!
My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.
Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.
Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.
As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.
Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.
Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.
Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.
Planned Accidents The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.
Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.
What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?
Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.
For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller
Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.
For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel
Thanks – I think
By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Licensed Counselor.
Counselorssoapbox.com
Thanks – I think
Even when I don’t agree with someone I appreciate their interest in my blog. Links are even better. I think it was La Guardia that said, it does not matter what you say about me, just spell the name right, or in this case get the link right. But still – something that happened today shows how easy it is to be misleading when you quote someone else. In this case, they were sort of quoting me.
My blog about our tendency to take the easy way out and give kids lots of meds instead of the personal connections they need to develop was quoted on a website about Medicare. That was nice, only the picture they ran with my blog post did not come from my blog which might make it misleading.
Just so everything is clear, I am very much in favor of parity laws. Paying as much to treat mental illness and drug addiction as we do for physical illnesses is an idea whose time has come. I am also in favor of anything that makes sure health care coverage is available to all.
People who do not have health care end up at free county hospitals and most of the time they don’t get to the emergency room until they are critical. People with untreated mental illnesses are clogging up our jails and prisons and medical hospitals. We pay for all this treatment whether the people have insurance or not. So some form of national healthcare preregistration just makes the system more efficient and manageable.
It seems clear that the country cannot retreat to the days of family farms and paying the doctor with chickens. Our future also does not involve making more things for cheaper prices. Our future as a country does depend on developing minds. We need more Ph.D.’s not more press wood furniture.
Some people seem to think that teachers, especially college ones are a waste of resources. They don’t want to pay for medical services for anyone but themselves. If this country is to stay a world leader we need more teachers, more doctors, and more professionals who work in mental health and substance abuse. We also need more engineers and scientists. Developing these specialties requires easily accessible education as well as physical and mental health care.
All of these things, like the military and the coining of money, are things that need to be undertaken by the government for the good of all. The majority of promising candidates for the service industry do not come from the rich. The best and brightest minds come from among the ninety-nine percent and they need the government at all levels to promote the growth of the service industries and education.
The future is in the areas of ideas and services. The government needs to take the lead in growing these sectors. I am not opposed to businesses having a large role in this effort. Non-profit companies are especially good at efficiently providing these services. But the mentally ill, the drug addicts, and the homeless don’t have money to pay for their care and we all pay for it one way or another.
So the association of a picture of President Obama superimposed with a communist flag was not my sentiment. If anything, I think this administration has been too conservative in accommodating the role of large businesses in the economy.
We made progress in the space race because the administration at that time led the country into a new area. Hopefully, our leaders will lead again into the new service-oriented economies of the next few centuries.
The one bright spot in all this, to my way of thinking, is that at least a couple of Republican candidates for our highest office are now sounding like they are more liberal than the current administration. Maybe this veer in the liberal direction will get our nation back on track.
The hummingbird picture came from Wikimedia. It has nothing to do with this post but then the picture someone attached to my last post quoted on their website had nothing to do with my post. So now things are about even.
Hoping you all have a happy and mentally healthy holiday season.
David Miller, LMFT, LPCC
Staying connected with David Joel Miller
Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!
My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.
Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.
Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.
As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.
Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.
Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.
Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.
Planned Accidents The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.
Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.
What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?
Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.
For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller
Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.
For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel
.
Here are the Spruce!!
Counselorssoapbox.com
As promised the counselorssoapbox blog has been spruced up.
So why do we call the spring cleaning “sprucing up”
Like so many other words and expressions we use here in America, we got this one from our Country-Ancestors in the UK. Originally spruce items, like the trees, were things imported or originating in Prussia. One thing Prussia was especially known for in the pre-colonial days was fancy leather goods. So back then to “spruce up” was to put on your fancy leather jacket. Later it came to mean to get dressed up or to fix up your looks. So we have both imported some spruce tree pictures for this occasion and cleaned up the site. For more information on this and other UK expressions that made their way to America please see – phrases.org.uk.
One of the new features on the blog is a section about the books I have been writing. None of the books are published just yet but I wanted to share the process and the progress I was making on these projects. Two of my novels are in the editing and sending to the agent stage, more on them later.
My major non-fiction book project is about all the things beginning counselors need to learn to become helping as opposed to unhelpful counselors. It currently has the working title “How to do counseling” While working on this project I have had to do a lot of research on books for counselors and on books counselors might suggest to their clients. In my own private therapy practice, I sometimes do what we counselor types call “Bibliotherapy” which is suggesting books for our clients to read.
So as the project progresses I would like to tell you about some of the books I have read that might interest you. You will be able to see some short book revues about counseling, therapy, recovery and resiliency, and other “having a happy life” books. As the list grows there will be a list of recommended books and resources.
If you have a particular favorite helping book email me or make a comment on the blog.
Till next time wishing you a happy life. David Miller, LMFT, NCC.
One last Spruce
Staying connected with David Joel Miller
Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!
My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.
Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.
Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.
As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.
Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.
Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.
Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.
Planned Accidents The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.
Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.
What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?
Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.
For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller
Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.
For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel
Blog Renovation
Blog Renovation is almost complete.
Counselorssoapbox blog has been undergoing renovation. We moved a few buttons, sharpened a few widgets, and plan to spruce the place up as soon as we can find a spruce or two. Counseling classes will be back in session next week. I will see some of you there. It’s time for me to sharpen the quills and get back to writing. Watch for several new blogs soon. Feel free to comment or email me if there is a topic you would like to read about. If you would rather not read anymore- you are on the wrong blog- try a political one! We are all going to be a lot tired of them and way too soon. Looking forward to talking with all of you once again.
Staying connected with David Joel Miller
Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!
My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.
Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.
Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.
As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.
Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.
Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.
Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.
Planned Accidents The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.
Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.
What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?
Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.
For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller
Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.
For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel
Common Challenges Remote Workers Face
Remote Worker
Source: Unsplash.com | By: Yasmina H. | Rights: Free to use under the Unsplash License
Over 4.3 million people in the U.S. work remotely. While many thrive in the new work-from-home space, some still struggle with the various psychological challenges that present themselves in remote work. These challenges not only inhibit the productivity of workers but also play a key role in the mental and physical well-being of employees.
Below are some of the most common challenges remote workers face and strategies to help overcome them.
Overworking Yourself
In 2021, unplugging was the most common challenge faced by remote workers and continues to be the number one challenge in 2022 as well. It can be easy to forget to take a break or overwork yourself when working from home. However, not taking breaks or forgetting to unplug when the work day is over can lead to feelings of fatigue, stress, and burnout.
Remember, it’s okay to take breaks and allow yourself to reset once in a while. Productive breaks are important during the work day both at home and in the office. It allows you to concentrate better, maintain your energy, stay motivated, and keep you mentally refreshed.
If you struggle with taking breaks, try out the Pomodoro Technique. The method advocates working in chunks and taking often, but brief, breaks throughout the day. This time management strategy can be a great way to encourage breaks, increase focus, and allow you to optimize your productivity without feeling overwhelmed.
Along with breaks, it’s important to set a hard start and end time or goal each day; so you know when to stop working. When working remotely, it can be easy to stay on the clock even throughout the night. When your work day is over, shut down your computer and silence your work notifications. This will allow you to truly unplug and enjoy your personal time.
Separating Personal and Professional Life
When you work where you live, it can be hard to separate your personal and professional life. This can increase feelings of anxiety, stress, and frustration. As a remote worker, it’s important to maintain a barrier between work and personal life.
A great way to separate the two is by having your own dedicated workspace. Create an office separate from where you sleep. It’s important to avoid doing work in your bedroom to help practice sleep therapy, maintain your room’s relaxing nature, and have a physical barrier between your personal and professional life.
To maintain that division, try renting a coworking space or working in a coffee shop. However, if you want to avoid paying fees or having to purchase coffee daily, create your own office space right at home. If you own a home, consider using a home equity loan to construct an optimal covid safe office. This will give you the divide you need while also increasing the value of your home. Constructing an office space is especially advantageous if you have others in your household who work from home, you have kids that need parental supervision, or if you have conditions that don’t allow you to leave your home. Having this space will allow you to create that needed divide, while still being able to enjoy the advantages of working at home. Regardless of what you chose, having a physical separation will clearly define your work and personal life, allowing both to coexist without interfering with each other.
Feeling Isolated
Another major psychological challenge remote workers face is feelings of isolation. It can be easy to forget to leave your house when working remotely. Additionally, not having the typical social interactions from a traditional workplace can make working from home a lonely experience.
To help avoid feelings of loneliness, make an effort to leave your house. Take the time to go for a walk or do an activity outside of your workspace to get your daily dose of sunlight. If possible, take one day a week to work outside your home. This could be as easy as working from your porch or backyard. If you have friends or coworkers in your city, consider meeting up at a coffee shop, public university, or library to do work together. Leaving your home office will help you to feel less isolated, and working with others will help mitigate feelings of loneliness.
Making Meaningful Connections
Making friends is tough when you enter the workplace, especially when you never got the chance to meet with your coworkers in person. Because of this, it can be difficult for remote workers to feel like they belong and are connected to the company.
In a traditional workspace, conversation happens naturally, but with remote work, it takes a little more effort. Take the extra step to meet your fellow remote workers in a virtual one-on-one to get to know them better and help foster that meaningful connection. Whether it be a casual hello, a shoutout for good work, or starting a conversation, don’t be afraid to speak up in the communication channels you have set up. If allowed, start same-interest group chats, like a music group chat or a movies chat. This will connect you with like-minded people and stimulate fun and more personal conversations.
Along with reaching out to fellow employees, there are also little things that you can do to help create a deeper connection. When possible, have your camera turned on. Seeing a face rather than a still image will create a more personal connection with your teammates. Likewise, participate in video and chat discussions to establish your presence. This will make people more comfortable reaching out to you and allow you to open up to others more.
Staying Motivated
There are many distractions at home that can make you lose focus and motivation. When working from home, regardless of your position, you become more of your own manager. Since there isn’t anyone watching over your shoulder or coworkers present to keep you motivated, you have to find ways to self-motivate. For some, this may be easy, but for others finding motivation is a difficult task.
Having a dedicated workspace away from the noise is always a great start. But what’s perhaps more important is having a morning routine. Just like how a nighttime routine gets you ready for bed, a morning routine can give you an energized start to the day and allow you to stay motivated to accomplish your goals. Start your day with food and an energizing beverage. Create daily goals and a schedule to keep you guided while working from home. Rather than working in silence, play music, or, if it’s not too distracting, a podcast. If allowed, put away your phone or have it on do not disturb during the work day. All of this will mitigate common work from home distractions and keep you focused on the task at hand.
Another way to help you stay motivated is by having virtual study halls with teammates. If you’re the type of person to be motivated by others, hosting virtual study halls is a great way to work alongside your coworkers remotely. As mentioned earlier, remember to take breaks when needed. Try going on a walk to get some fresh air and a clear mind. Energizing breaks like these can be the perfect reset and give you more balance during your work day.
I am reposting this post. The original post had some bad links and I feel that achieving worklife balance in this era of remote working has a huge impact on people’s mental health. Thanks for reading and will be talking with you again soon. David Joel Miller, LMFT, LPCC
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