# How to maintain physical and mental health while working from home Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2021-07-02 Category: BUSINESS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business Meta Title: COVID-19 Impact on Mental Health: Survey of UK Professionals Meta Description: Discover how the global pandemic has affected the mental health of UK professionals, with insights from a survey of 1,300 workers. Learn about the top concerns URL: https://financedigest.com/how-to-maintain-physical-and-mental-health-while-working-from-homehtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/graphicstock-man-sitting-at-the-desk-working-from-home-on-computer-holding-a-smart-phone-wearing-headseatrd46zuhszw-3-1736838242285-compressed.jpg) By: **Lee Biggins**, CEO and Founder of CV-Library. There is no doubt that COVID-19 has posed a significant risk to both our physical and mental health. Not only are we worried for the wellbeing of those closest to us, but we must also deal with the changing economic landscape and constant threat of redundancy. With this in mind, we [surveyed 1,300 UK professionals in an effort to ascertain exactly how the global](https://www.financedigest.com/spacex-rocket-sends-first-global-water-survey-mission-into-orbit.html "SpaceX rocket sends first global water survey mission into orbit") pandemic has impacted the wellbeing of the nation’s workforce. The results The study found that four in 10 (42.9%) UK professionals felt their [mental health](https://www.financedigest.com/breaking-the-stigma-men-and-mental-health-in-the-world-of-investments.html "Breaking the Stigma: Men and Mental Health in the World of Investments") was worse than it was a year ago. What’s more, female workers appear to be suffering more than their male counterparts (46.9% of women vs. 39.9% of men). In an effort to identify the cause for this decline, we asked respondents to name the concerns that had the biggest effect on their [mental wellbeing](https://www.financedigest.com/how-business-leaders-can-support-the-mental-health-and-wellbeing-of-their-workforce.html "How business leaders can support the mental health and wellbeing of their workforce"). The results show that the following issues were the most detrimental: Worrying about not being able to find a job (57.3%) Experiencing financial difficulties (50.2%) Worrying about the [health and wellbeing of friends and/or family](https://www.financedigest.com/putting-family-first-as-uk-grapples-mental-health-crisis.html "Putting family first as UK grapples ‘mental health crisis’") members (36.3%) Worrying about the spread of COVID-19 (26%) Not being able to leave [home during lockdown](https://www.financedigest.com/keeping-your-team-connected-and-beating-work-from-home-fatigue-in-lockdown.html "Keeping your team connected and beating work from home fatigue in lockdown") (19.2%) Worrying about losing my current job (18.7%) Having a poor [work-life balance](https://www.financedigest.com/find-your-work-life-balance-at-great-kneighton.html "Find Your Work-Life Balance At Great Kneighton") (18.6%) Feeling isolated when [working from home](https://www.financedigest.com/working-from-home-everyone-is-different.html "Working from home, everyone is different.") (11.4%) Interestingly, these worries remain the same across all [genders and age groups with the exception of workers](https://www.financedigest.com/1-in-5-uk-workers-believe-there-is-a-gender-divide-with-work-uniforms.html " 1 in 5 UK workers believe there is a gender divide with work uniforms") aged 35-44 years old. These professionals felt that experiencing financial difficulties (54.5%) had the biggest [impact on their mental health](https://www.financedigest.com/the-impact-of-debt-on-your-health-and-what-you-can-do-about-it.html "The Impact of Debt On Your Health, And What You Can Do About It"). The [research went on to discuss how COVID-19 had impacted](https://www.financedigest.com/what-brexit-blues-new-research-reveals-over-half-of-businesses-in-the-financial-sector-believe-brexit-will-have-a-long-term-positive-impact.html "What Brexit blues? New research reveals over half of businesses in the financial sector believe Brexit will have a long-term positive impact") work-life balance. This reveals that a whopping 43.7% of employees feel their work-life balance is worse than a year ago; with a further 61% stating [working from home](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-make-working-from-home-work-for-you.html "How to make working from home work for you") as the main reason for this. What’s more, the data shows that professionals aged 25-34 [years old are the most likely to blame home](https://www.financedigest.com/hong-kong-home-prices-drop-15-6-in-2022-snap-13-years-of-gain.html "Hong Kong home prices drop 15.6% in 2022, snap 13 years of gain") working (50%). This is followed by 35-54-year-old’s (40%) and 55-64-year-old’s (39.6%). In addition to this, nearly three-quarters (72.9%) of the individuals [surveyed admitted that they would look for a new job](https://www.financedigest.com/half-brits-taken-pay-cut-job-made-happier-according-wrike-survey.html "Over half of Brits have taken a pay cut for a job that made them happier, according to Wrike survey") in order to secure a better work-life balance. But what does this mean for employers? Well, these results show that professionals across the country need extra support in order to [weather this storm](https://www.financedigest.com/how-digital-commerce-merchants-can-weather-the-economic-storm.html "How Digital Commerce Merchants Can Weather the Economic Storm"). Business owners have a duty of care to staff and should do what they can to support the [mental health](https://www.financedigest.com/investment-in-mental-health-amongst-cybersecurity-professionals-set-to-increase-according-to-infosecurity-europe-poll.html "Investment in mental health amongst cybersecurity professionals set to increase according to Infosecurity Europe poll") of team members. We’ve got a few ideas to get you started… **Communicate with your staff** An easy [way to help your team is to keep](https://www.financedigest.com/five-ways-to-keep-your-head-above-water-while-working-from-home.html "Five ways to keep your head above water while working from home") them apprised of all changes to the business. As you adapt to the [current economic climate](https://www.financedigest.com/what-flatsharing-is-a-financial-gamechanger-in-the-current-climate.html "Why flatsharing is a financial gamechanger in the current climate"), you may have to make changes that will affect your employees. While this is unavoidable, it’s [important to understand](https://www.financedigest.com/changing-face-b2b-business-practices-understanding-timeless-behaviour-important-ever.html "The changing face of B2B business practices – why understanding timeless behaviour is more important than ever.") that uncertainty can be a trigger for those who suffer from anxiety. This will enable your team to feel more in control of the situation and [raise any concerns](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-bank-executives-raise-concerns-over-inflation.html "U.S. bank executives raise concerns over inflation") they might have with a manager. **Regular catch-ups** This one may seem simple, but scheduling regular catch-ups with your direct reports can make a huge difference. These meetings offer a platform for team members to share any concerns about their [mental health](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-protect-your-employees-mental-health-while-remote-working.html "How to protect your employees’ mental health while remote working") and ask for support. While working from [home](https://www.financedigest.com/savile-row-designer-on-working-from-home-winter-attire.html "Savile Row Designer on Working From Home Winter Attire") has been necessary to prevent the spread of the virus and is a preferred method of working for some, many professionals feel isolated as a result. These catch-ups can help stave off loneliness, therefore [improving the mental wellbeing of your team](https://www.financedigest.com/improving-your-it-team-in-four-simple-steps.html "Improving your IT team in four simple steps"). **Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs)** If you’re a larger business, you might want to [consider investing](https://www.financedigest.com/the-six-things-you-need-to-consider-before-starting-or-investing-in-an-ico.html "The six things you need to consider before starting or investing in an ICO") in an EAP. These programmes can vary between provider, but they act as a port in the storm for colleagues who are struggling. Many will offer counselling, impartial advice, an employee helpline and [access to online resources as part of the programme](https://www.financedigest.com/first-cohort-of-24-uk-smes-selected-to-join-the-access-india-programme.html "First Cohort of 24 UK SMEs selected to join the Access India Programme"). If you’re a smaller business, this may be out of your reach. However, it’s [vital that you still offer support](https://www.financedigest.com/home-support-is-vital-for-northern-irish-businesses.html "Home Support Is Vital For Northern Irish Businesses") to your team. For example, you could direct staff to the [mental health](https://www.financedigest.com/mental-health-in-business-during-a-pandemic.html "Mental Health in Business during a Pandemic") charity, Mind. There are tons of useful assets on their website that specifically deal with [mental wellbeing in the workplace](https://www.financedigest.com/73-of-employees-in-the-banking-and-financial-services-industries-are-looking-for-better-physical-and-mental-wellbeing-support-in-the-workplace.html "73% of employees in the banking and financial services industries are looking for better physical and mental wellbeing support in the workplace"). You should also share the details of any local services that may be of assistance. **[Support the mental health](https://www.financedigest.com/supporting-your-employees-mental-health-wfh.html "Supporting Your Employees Mental Health WFH") of your staff** It’s unlikely that these concerns will go away anytime soon. As such, you should put strategies in place to protect your staff as soon as possible. It may not be easy, but encouraging mental [wellbeing is vital in any workplace](https://www.financedigest.com/workplace-planning-software-cuts-costs-and-improves-employee-wellbeing-and-productivity-a-win-win-for-all.html "Workplace planning software cuts costs and improves employee wellbeing and productivity – a win-win for all"). If you fail to offer this support, your workforce will be less [productive and you could lose top employees](https://www.financedigest.com/remove-the-digital-divide-for-employee-productivity-management.html "Remove The Digital Divide For Employee Productivity Management"). --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---