Navigating an Unprecedented Time

Since March of 2020, everyone has been navigating the COVID-19 global pandemic. While the world fluctuates between being shut down or open completely, one result of the pandemic that has remained consistent is the number of people who began working from home. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than a third of U.S. households reported working from home more frequently than before the pandemic.

Working from Home: Harmful or Helpful?

Working from home has many benefits, and most importantly, it is a great way to keep people healthy and safe. However, for some, working from home has been an added source of stress and isolation, increasing negative emotions like anxiety and depression. In times of adversity, it is common for people to turn to substances to ease their emotions and cope with unprecedented circumstances. In fact, research states that there has been a significant increase in people drinking while working from home.

This leads to the question: is working from home harmful or helpful? If you struggle with substance use or are in recovery, there are ways to make working from home more manageable and less triggering.

Make Working from Home Manageable

Try these three tips to maintain sobriety while working from home:

1. Stick to a Routine

Maintaining a routine is a highly effective way to navigate your recovery journey. Having a set schedule provides predictability and stability throughout your day. Creating a plan including a morning routine and nightly rituals will help hold you accountable from the moment you wake up until you go to sleep.

2. Set Boundaries

Setting boundaries is an essential skill to have both in your personal and professional life. This skill reduces stress and prevents you from doing something you may feel uncomfortable with. Setting a boundary between work time and free time is vital to maintaining a work-life balance when working from home. This will also allow you to schedule time for self-care and inform your co-workers what hours they cannot reach you.

3. Create a Work Space

If you have the means to do so, creating a separate workspace will help you mentally divide your work from your home. When the lines get blurred, it can become difficult to live and work in the same space. Suddenly, where you once relaxed becomes crowded by a place of productivity. Physically separating the areas helps you maintain the boundaries you set.

Addiction Program for Professionals at Cedar Oaks Wellness Center

At Cedar Oaks Wellness Center, our Cincinnati-based team strives to provide drug and alcohol addiction treatment to everyone who needs it, including working professionals and executives. That is why we offer a plan that tailors to your unique needs, including your work schedule. This plan allows you to achieve professional success and sobriety without having to sacrifice what is important.

Call our team at (513) 780-5201 to learn more about how we can walk alongside you on your recovery journey.