Preventing Employee Burnout While Working from Home

The incidents of burnout experienced by employees while working from home have increased during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. If you work from home or remotely and are having similar symptoms, it appears that you are not alone. Signs of burnout can include (but are not limited to) irritability, loss of sleep, fatigue, lack of motivation, anxiety, and sometimes, depression. Among the most common problems encountered by remote employees is burning out too soon when moving from the workplace to working from home.

If you’ve made it this far, we’ll like to inform you right now that this isn’t a “how-to” guide for evaluating if you are suffering from employee burnout. It is rather a list of things that you should do to avoid it. People working in offices can get stressed out by waking up at 6 a.m. to drive for two hours, working for eight to nine hours, and then traveling back home.

While such stress is eliminated when working from home, there are still some major challenges that employees can face while working from home. Employees who work from home are at risk of being stressed out since they manage their own agendas, are busy during the day, and may feel lonely or ignored.

Working remotely entails all of the responsibilities of a regular job, as well as establishing one’s own sense of independence. The most difficult aspects to seriously consider when working from home can be self-discipline, goal-setting, and staying focused.

If you think you’re at the point of total burnout, you’ve come to the right place. We’d like to share some tips for avoiding burnout and staying optimistic when working from home.

Fingers crossed, at least a few of these strategies will help you!

Get up and Take a Stroll

A stroll is a great way to get rid of the clutter in your mind. Taking a break by walking around the levels of your apartment complex, or walking around your block or to a local park, will help you take breaks in your busy day.

Leaving your phone at home is one of our most important work-from-home tips. If anything can wait, wear an old-fashioned wristwatch to ensure that your trek does not surpass 10 to 15 minutes if you have a meeting scheduled.

Take Breaks

Make sure you take breaks to avoid work-from-home burnout before it happens. It is one of the most effective methods for creating and maintaining a healthy routine for yourself.

Anyone who works from home is likely guilty of being dragged into a task, a meeting that lasted significantly longer than it should have, or rushing through tasks to achieve targets. Make sure you take breaks during the day to keep yourself focused, inspired, and efficient.

Burnout seems to be a real possibility if you don’t schedule breaks, so schedule them in your calendar, either physically or psychologically.

Look for a Remote Job Accountability Partner

It might not seem to be a straightforward option to have an accountability partner, but if it works for you, then that’s all that matters. Is there someone else in your network in a similar situation to you, whether this is someone who’s working from home for the first time or anyone who’s having difficulty dealing with a home-based remote work schedule? Request to be slack buddies with a friend over the phone and set mutual goals for enhanced productivity.

Digital coworking can also serve as a source for personal accountability, and you can try this type of committed yet social office time with colleagues.

Make the Most of Your Downtime by Relaxing

As previously mentioned, taking breaks will help you prevent burnout, but what if your breaks are keeping you busy? Or maybe even busier? It will not help if you do not reduce your screen time even when not working. People these days stay glued to their smartphones when they are not working, and this can put additional stress on your body and mind. It is highly recommended to set aside time for meditation, yoga, or even napping.

Don’t Work on Weekends!

If it’s required of you, do everything you can to complete your work throughout the week. Of course, if you’re a freelancer looking to meet a client’s Sunday night deadline, work certain hours on the weekend, but remember to take a day off every week.

If you settle into your office chair on a Saturday night to review work emails and respond to clients, keep in mind that you’re placing yourself in a situation where people will expect you to respond on weekends. Spending your weekend with friends and family while also allowing yourself some me-time can be ideal for getting yourself ready for the coming week.

Make Time for Physical Exercise Everyday

Although physical exercise at home will not add to your step count, an hour-long workout session can help you keep yourself fit and motivated for all existing and new challenges. If you cannot manage hardcore exercising and weight training at your house gym, make sure not to miss out on yoga, aerobics, and other such exercises. Yoga is an excellent way to enhance the efficiency of your brain, gain a better understanding of your body, and alleviate stress.

Bottom-line!

Your mind and body are connected so that mental stress affects your internal organs and physical stress puts a significant toll on your mind. A healthy lifestyle can help you maintain an ideal balance in this regard. By healthy lifestyle, it means choosing organic food over junk food, allowing yourself time to relax during hectic work hours, keeping good hygiene by using high-quality skin and healthcare products, and spending quality time with your loved ones.

To make your mind feel healthy and prevent exhaustion, ensure that you eat vitamins, minerals, and fiber. By following all the above-mentioned tips and adopting a healthy lifestyle, you can also achieve a healthy work-life balance, which can be of great significance, especially when working from home during the pandemic.