It doesn’t seem possible, but we are collectively entering year three of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the world continuing to change around us, many people are still going to work – and for those of us that have been working remotely, the line between work life and home life has become undeniably blurry. 

Since the beginning of COVID-19, the average length of time remote employees are logged onto their computer has increased by two hours per day, which may be contributing to the 61% of remote workers that are finding it more difficult to “unplug” from their work than they did pre-pandemic. Without the natural boundary between work and home, a Robert Half report found that 70% of remote workers have adopted working on weekends since COVID began, a troubling trend that has tipped nationwide stress levels to their highest since the early days of the pandemic. 

InvoiceCloud has long emphasized the importance of work-life balance, but our team is thrilled to be receiving extra support from our parent company, EngageSmart, during this especially challenging time. 

EngageSmart Wellbeing Days 

These perturbing trends have not gone unnoticed by the team at EngageSmart – we are all living in these exceedingly strange times, after all – and they recognize that there has never been a more critical time for companies to safeguard employee wellbeing. 

To give all employees more time away from work to focus on themselves, EngageSmart has introduced three new, paid company holidays, a.k.a. EngageSmart Wellbeing Days. 

Each Wellbeing Day was selected to coincide with holidays that recognize the importance of employee wellness in a few different ways: 

          Employee Appreciation Day: March 4 

          World Health Day: April 7 

          World Mental Health Day: October 10 

The addition of these Wellbeing Days and the celebration of Juneteenth brings our total number of paid holidays to 13, with at least one company paid holiday every month except August! And for that rare month void of a holiday, EngageSmart’s Flexible Time-off (FTO) policy gives employees optimal flexibility to take additional time off without having to wait for hours to accrue.  

Why the Increased Focus on Time-off? 

While many things can contribute to burnout at work, it’s clear the pandemic has skewed how many people divide their time at home and their time on the clock. EngageSmart’s increased attention to time-off will hopefully help to restore some work-life balance for our teammates, giving employees more paid, free time to spend with family, recharge, or pursue the activities that bring them joy. 

This time back impacts our customer’s experience, too; a happier, well-rested workforce is often a more productive workforce, which means all EngageSmart solutions will be better enabled to serve our customers. 

But, above all, this increased focus stems from an organizational commitment to take care of employees. As valued community members and the lifeblood of our company, the wellbeing of the EngageSmart staff takes precedent at all levels, as demonstrated by this impactful response to the burnout epidemic.  

4 Ideas for Your Next Wellbeing Day 

Whether you’re an EngageSmart employee looking forward to next week’s Wellbeing Day on March 4, or you’re taking time off to create your own wellbeing day, here are a few ideas for making time off as restorative as possible:

1. Get some movement in 

Whether it’s a hike, walk, or yoga session, put aside some time for movement that makes you feel great. The only thing that feels better than taking this time to yourself will be the endorphins that follow! 

Those looking for at-home yoga sessions should check out the Gaiam Yoga Studio app, a great resource for yoga videos based on your level, preferred duration, and focus. And, if all else fails, there are some fantastic, free classes on YouTube. 

2. Read 

We don’t always have the time (or, frankly, the brainpower) to crack open that book we’ve been meaning to read – or even an old favorite we’ve wanted to revisit! Here’s a list of some “must-reads,” if you’re not sure where to start.

3. Journal 

When it comes to mindfulness, journaling is a great opportunity to reflect on what’s going on in your life. It can range from a free flow of consciousness to structured goal setting, and everywhere in between. Even just jotting down what you did that day can really draw attention to what you’re grateful for in your day-to-day. 

4. Meditate 

Carve out some time to meditate. Nervous at the prospect of just sitting still and breathing? Luckily, there are podcasts, apps, and online videos that you can use for great guided meditations – I would recommend InsightTimer for a free option. 

Now, these are just ideas – you should use your valuable personal time in whatever way you see fit! And if you’re looking to join a team that offers the space to prioritize your mental health in these important ways, check out InvoiceCloud’s open positions here.