Does anyone else feel better mentally at work?

[Bluewavescrashing]

Context: I'm a primary school teacher, experienced, with junior age DCs. In the past I've had anxiety episodes and chronic fatigue.

With everything happening in the world I genuinely feel better at work all day, coming home in the evening, being busy, making dinner, putting DCs to bed, doing a couple of housework jobs then crashing out as opposed to being at home all day. Maybe lockdown has put me off being at home, I don't know but I'm much happier being a busy professional than hanging about at home. I do spend time with my DCs after school but hate the school run and love having a professional identity. AIBU to feel like this?

I get what you mean op, I’m WFH but really busy all day. I feel great when I log off from work and then I remember the Covid mess and feel anxious and shit again

I was discussing this today with DH.

I love working from home - but I'm always AT home! At least in the office I was elsewhere. I know what you mean about being busy too - I'm less busy, but then I've gained 10 hours a week not on the commute.

I'm a primary school teacher and work is hard at the moment. But yes. I gain so much joy from my colleagues and my class and the mundane normality of life

Yes and no. I have a very stressful job that sometimes tries to break me, but I have been so grateful that it has meant I have had to leave the house regularly and see people who weren't DH and DC. Even pre-covid, I would have days when I felt like I couldn't cope with work (exhaustion, anxiety, feeling emotionally broken), but I got up and went anyway and ended up feeling better for it than I would have staying at home. Last year I took 2 seperate days off due to stress/ anxiety/ something like that, and felt worse for it. I work with a great team of people and we all support each other, it is a chance to focus on something other than how shit the world is, and I work with children who help you see things in a different way.

Me, OP. I can and do WFH Since lockdown but I sometimes have reason to go to the office - and I love it. I like getting dressed and going out and seeing people and chatting to them.

The whole of lockdown has made me realise I must never retire.

Yes! Office worker here. My job could be done remotely but a proportion of my team need access to a system and devices that can only be used in the office so I go in in solidarity for them!

The getting up getting dressed and out
Interacting with people
Regimenting my food!!!
Going for a 40min walk at lunch

These have helped my mental health as previously from march- starting this job august I hated being at home!

Absolutely! I nearly cried when I knew I could go back to work after lockdown. When I'm at work everything feels normal (despite all the PPE and cleaning we do-I'm a dispensing optician) and interacting with people again is wonderful! I feel completely safe at work too, which is interesting. The cleaning gives an element of control I think.

I am still working from home and I really want to be back in the office. I miss the socialisation and being able to have casual chats with my team about issues rather than having to arrange a phone call or a meeting.
Unfortunately I don't think we will be back till next year

On the whole yes, but I also enjoy working from home. I get a lot from feeling busy, useful and engaged with the world. My professional identity ( on a good day) gives me a sense of drive, agency and connection. It's interesting a few teachers have replied. I'm an educational psychologist aged have visited hundreds of schools. Some are great, some ( sadly) are not. For me, there's nothing more inspiring, comforting and joy-giving than spending time in a busy, nurturing, fun-loving school. I just love it and can't wait to get back to school visits after half term.

I do like to get out of the house in that I like to see people and I dislike working from home. But my work (education) is not an environment that is conducive to positive mental health.

Nope. I worked in an office 5 days a week pre covid and now WFH all week. I have gone from taking 60mg of fluoxetine a day for depression to being medication free. I feel the best I’ve felt in years

Yes. I was on furlough from March until August and it was horrible. I'm an extrovert and I'm more productive when I'm around people. We can't WFH in our industry so day to day life almost feels normal now I'm back at work.