The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of working professionals all over the globe. Although the continuing crisis is affecting both women and men equally, working women are facing exceptional difficulties. Even if the death rate has been twice higher for men than for women, the Covid-19 pandemic has affected women more than men, both at work and at home. This blog aims to observe mental health and the struggle of women in the COVID outbreak. Certainly, the pandemic has taken a massive toll on the daily lives of many working women. Flexible hours comforted the workflow initially but eventually, it distorted personal life, balancing work life and home became a major challenge. In that case, organizations should take a step ahead by promoting work-life balance and flexible work patterns to avoid difficulty in reaching gender equality in the workplace. 

Women and Mental Health While Working from Home

An additional toll on women's mental health addressed about a lot of women having to leave the job to take care of children or other family members at home, or are dealing with an incredible and consistent juggling act of children, plus career, plus household chores and other responsibilities. With the build-up of responsibilities, like homeschooling or caring for in-laws, it becomes harder for women to care for themselves, which in turn affects their mental health. For those struggling with anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues, you are not alone. Support & Assistance is available, and part of restoring a sense of stability is taking time to care for oneself during an unusual experience of social isolation, continued effort, and grief. 

There are things a woman can do to manage work-life balance like:

- Seeking help from other colleagues in work to reduce the pressure.

- Keeping due time for self-care. Creating a dedicated area for workspace.

- If you are a mother, involving your children in your planning can be helpful. 

- Prioritizing tasks from the first place allows versatility.

- Staying organized.  

Working women can easily overcome mental health issues during pandemics and adopt a new normal by simply following some quick steps mentioned below:

Practice the Art of Self-Care : When you have a full-time job, or you are a mom, sometimes self-care doesn’t ever make its way to the top of the to-do list. During this tough time in a pandemic, with stress running high, it is more important to take care of your physical and mental health. We have to learn how to manage ourselves, to simply get through this. Because this is definitely a marathon and not a race. Many of us did not expect the pandemic to stay as long as it is, so why not take care of ourselves in the meantime and come out more energetic? Activities such as walking, listening to music, talking to a therapist, journaling, and developing a uniform sleep pattern are ways you can have both for your physical and mental health. 

Plan a Solo Day Out : Everyone likes to have a personal space, despite the chaos around them. Nothing can be as great as a day out without any daily routine work. Plan a weekend with yourself and have a guilt-free day out. Certainly, self-time is a hypothetical concept in our rigid lives. Yet, it is one of the few ways to restore some much-needed headspace, which may clarify why a growing squad of women is exploring the world alone. While it would be simple to suggest that this kind of solo trip resolves every problem, it does hold a boat of benefits that encourage positive mental health.

Connect With People : Socializing is one of the best ways to understand yourself and it also helps in releasing happy hormones oxytocin and serotonin. The talent to make new connections, whether with your next-door neighbor or a street vendor in town, is an essential stage of happiness. Connecting with people helps to overlook temporary moods and feelings. So, never get disconnected from your chosen ones by considering your busy and hectic schedule as the highest priority. Speaking over the phone or just meeting for a coffee is all you need to have a happy and peaceful mind. To conclude, it is imperative to carry in mind that the COVID-19 crisis is just worsening current gender biases. Policymakers and organizations should consider a gender strategy when making important choices during and after the pandemic, including the improvement of mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. As women are undergoing mental health effects of the pandemic to a higher extent than men due to job loss and the pressures of balancing work and house responsibilities. If you feel you are struggling with your mental health, there is no shame in reaching out to a Mental Wellness Coach for guidance and better support.

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