Are you remotely stressed?

These days, working from home is the most natural thing in the world compared to four or so years ago, making life so much easier when it comes to commuting, juggling family life, and achieving a good work-life balance. But (of course) there is a flip side. When you’re working remotely, there’s often nobody around to let off steam to, and things that might normally have been diffused quickly in your own mind can build up, resulting in stress. 

 

Our operations team lead, Amanda Juniper, who splits her work hours between the office and home, has discovered the perfect formula for keeping WFH stress at bay… 

 

 

“When you work in a fast-paced, service-based industry, stressful situations will happen. No day is the same in operations. My team has a lot of deadlines to hit, but when you have been in this line of work for as long as I have, you just get on and prioritise your workload, switch off from the outside, and just crack on. However, having a supportive boss, like Matt Pickin, helps a lot. 

 

When you are in the office surrounded by colleagues, it’s less likely for stress to build up. We all work well as a team and support each other immensely. We have each other’s backs and that’s what I love about the Iridium culture, no one is ever left to struggle.” 

 

 

“I love going to the gym - it helps me de-stress from everyday life. It’s the place where I go to wind down - headphones on, the outside world shut out - this is my time. I train at 6am before work, Monday to Friday. This is normally core and cardio, then I complete strength training after work. I fit the gym around my job. I think it helps that the directors are also into their fitness. Along with Matt and Joel, it’s like a gun show on our morning calls. Who has the biggest biceps? 

 

Any kind of exercise is good for stress relief. It pumps up your feel-good endorphins, helps to refocus your mind on something different than work, and reduces the negative effects of stress on your body.” 

 

 

“For me, having a dog around the place helps to keep things in perspective when I’m working at home. Coco is a seven-month-old miniature Dachshund who I talk to when I need to vent. I walk her four times a day, fitting this around my work and calls. She also likes to accompany me to the office as she gets a lot of fuss and attention, but she does get a little excited when she sees her favourite co-workers and accidentally pees on the carpet. 

 

Interacting with animals has been shown to decrease levels of stress hormone, cortisol, and lower blood pressure. Other studies have found that animals can reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support, and boost your mood.” 

 

 

“I think it’s important to give yourself boundaries to stay stress-free when working remotely. I will fit my work hours in around my needs, so it’s not unusual to see me log on at 6am or 8pm - but it’s on my terms. I do feel it’s important to switch off, so if I happen to be working from home, I will normally take Coco for a long lunchtime walk, or get an impromptu gym session in. Being on the go is my happy place.”