Sorry to break it to you: You are replaceable…

…at work.

Ok, you might be thinking to yourself, “Ouch. Way to kick a horse when it’s down.” But honestly, this is the best piece of advice I’ve ever received.

Now don’t get me wrong. This isn’t an excuse not to work hard. Hard work is good, it keeps the brain active and the best things in life happen as a result of some good old fashion hard work.

What I’m talking about is forcing yourself to examine your priorities in life and how you are taking care of yourself and not just your deadlines.

Accepting that you are not the chosen one sent from high above to save your company from what would surely be a bitter end if you didn’t attend that 15th meeting of the day, is the best thing you can do for your mental health. Sure, your company might throw a few $$$ at your going away party, and tears will surely be shed, but the stock price will not waver. And soon, someone new will be at your desk. Sad, but that’s how business works.

You are replaceable at work.

But do you know what’s not replaceable? Your physical health, your mental health, and your close relationships. So, why would you forsake the most important things in life for something that will drop you like a hat if it needs to?

Like me, many of you are now working from home, missing the water cooler gossip and the walks to and from meetings where you actually got some blood flow to your legs. You might be scheduling meetings back-to-back or finding yourself still in your PJs at 4pm because you were too busy to shower.

As much as those fleece pajamas feel good, mentally and physically you are suffering, whether you realise it or not. We are not built to sit all day. We are not built to look at screens all day. Doing these things stifles creativity and physically makes us tired and less productive, which can easily lead to a state of depression.

Your mental health is not replaceable.

So, how do you course correct? The secret is in treating working from home like a work from the office day. Sounds simple enough, but I bet you’re currently not doing it. Here are a few simple things you can do right now.

• Don’t start work until you would normally. If you start at 9am when you’re in the office, don’t accept a meeting until 9am. It’s that simple. Block your calendar if need be. Use the extra time you would have spent commuting to do something for yourself – meditate, go for a run, actually take a shower. Remember, that time used to be your personal time. Don’t give it away to work. They ain’t paying for it.

• Don’t over sleep. Don’t use your commute time as an excuse to sleep in. Your body craves routine. Get up the same time you would normally and keep your body clock consistent.

• Don’t let your meeting over run. It doesn’t matter if people don’t physically need to get to another meeting. They do, however, physically need to stretch or mentally prepare for the next meeting, which is what they would have done in the office.

• Take breaks. Schedule 10 mins breaks here and there throughout your day. Get up. Stretch. Get a tea. Phone a friend. Walk outside. Whatever you physically or mentally need, do it. No excuses.

• For god’s sake, take a lunch break. In what world did we decide that because you didn’t waste your personal time getting into the office that morning that somehow you now don’t deserve a lunch? Take an hour or whatever you normally would (if you never take a lunch, force yourself to). Try to speak to someone you don’t work with or a close friend at work. Get your brain thinking about something else for that hour so that you can come back to your desk ready to take on the next thing on your to-do list.

• Stop work when you normally would. If it can wait until tomorrow, let it. Even if you have nothing on that evening, your brain needs a break. Your body needs to move. Take a walk and then put on a crime documentary or a rom com. Your brain will thank you for it.

Working from home can be physically tough and mentally isolating. It’s important to do whatever you can to put your mental health first. Cherish your relationships. Do something for yourself every day. Don’t let work be your life. Remember, you are replaceable at work but not in this world. Choose wisely.