In lockdown, WFH testing limits of mind and body
Bhubaneswar: It has been almost five months that Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown to contain the virus have forced many in private and government offices to work from home.
But maintaining a balance between office and household work, stuck within the confines of the four walls, is putting a great demand on the mind space of professionals, leading to burnout, fatigue and mental health issues.
Complaints of stress, anxiety, fatigue, insomnia as well as physical problems like backache, headache, migraine and tiredness have reached alarming proportions and many are forced to dial the doctor.
For professionals, work from home (WFH) has led to a new culture of online meetings, webinars and training modules.
“There is something or the other every day, lasting from 45 minutes to 2 hours. Sometimes, they all get bunched up together on a single day, putting great stress on mind and body. Sometimes, it is not even remotely related to work, but the management asks you to participate. All this is beyond my routine work for which I am answerable. Honestly, it’s draining. Also, you need to be attentive all the time,” Sangeeta Sahoo, an IT professional.
Many are complaining of exhaustion and say WFH is testing their nerves. “Recently, I got caught in a peculiar situation during a meeting. I got a call from a client and while I was discussing that, a senior sought my opinion during the office meeting. I had no clue what the question was and barely managed to save face saying there was problem with my internet connection,” said Himanshu Mohapatra, a SAP executive.
For married women with children, it is a roller-coaster ride managing office work and household chores in the absence of maid and cook. “I have not only lost my mental peace, but I am facing health complications. So much screen time is affecting my vision and sitting for long hours has led to pain in my spinal cord and neck,” said Moumita Dey, a consultant in a private firm. And then there are the children. “Managing their tantrums gives me headache at times,” she added.
Professionals alleged that the workload has increased substantially because managers generally overlook office timings and expect you to work at any time of the day. “It seems there is no break as the weekend seems same as the workdays. And unless you fall ill, there seems to be no other reason to seek leave,” said Subhashree Panda, a teacher who has to take three to four online classes every day.
Psychiatrists said they are getting distress calls from patients with complaints of anxiety, stress and sleep disorder triggered due to work from home. “The number of patients with stress-related issues has increased. WFH without the team causes lack of motivation and with family around, people cannot concentrate either, which affects their self-confidence. People work had but due to the fear of job loss, there is a sense of insecurity,” said Subhendu Narayan Mishra, consultant psychiatrist at IMS and SUM Hospital.
Experts suggested a series of minor initiatives can help in coping with the stress of WFH. “Regular routine like getting ready for the office, wearing office clothes and setting up a separate work area might help,” said Dr S K Padhy, additional professor of department of psychiatry at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar.
About managing household chores, Dr Padhy said, “Sort out roles with your spouse and make a balance between cooking, online classes of children and office work.” He also suggested yoga and meditation as well as staring away from the screen time and again to avoid putting stress on the eyes.
EoM