How To Manage Work From Home Burnout
Working from home can be a dream come true for many employees. No commute, no office politics, and the ability to work in your pyjamas? Yes, please!
But there are some downsides to working from home. You don't get that built-in social interaction with coworkers or clients. And sometimes, staying focused on the job is hard when you're feeling lonely, bored, or just plain tired.
If you find yourself suffering from work from home burnout—or if you're worried about it happening in the future—don't worry! We've got some tips for how you can manage your burnout and make sure your work from home experience is as healthy as possible:
Focus on SMART goals to achieve more
The first step to managing work from home burnout is identifying the problem: you’re feeling overwhelmed and not achieving your goals. It’s easy to get so wrapped up in the daily grind that you forget what you were working toward in the first place. This is why it’s important to set SMART goals before starting a task(s).
You don't want to find yourself in a situation where you're working every hour of every day just trying to keep up with everything that needs to be done, even though it's not helping your career or personal life much. Instead, think about how many hours per week (or month) you realistically have available for work-related tasks and decide on reasonable expectations based on those numbers.
Then, write down these expectations and any other factors that might affect them—things like vacations or other events involving family members or friends coming into town soon should also be considered!
Communicate clearly
Communication is key to managing work from home burnout.
Burnout, which occurs when you're overworked and unable to take time off, can be managed by communicating clearly with your manager. If you feel like you're burning out, it's important to talk about it with your manager or supervisor so they know how they can help you avoid it. They may be able to give you more autonomy over your work schedule or find ways for you to work fewer hours while maintaining productivity levels.
When communicating with your manager, be transparent and intentional about your needs and expectations. For example, if you have children at home who need attention during the day, let them know so they can plan accordingly. You should also let them know if your child has an illness that will require extra attention in the coming weeks so they can adjust their expectations accordingly.
Take a break outside.
Another way to combat work from home burnout is by taking a break outside your remote work area. To do this:
Go for a walk. This can be a simple stroll around your neighborhood, but it also works well if you can access public parks or nature trails near your home.
Go running/jogging/biking/swimming/etc. These exercises help ensure your blood is flowing properly while also releasing endorphins (happy hormones). If this isn't an option for you because of weather constraints or physical discomfort during exercise, try some stretching instead! It'll still help get those good vibes without worrying about sore muscles later.
Take a nap! It might sound counterintuitive since we're trying not to waste time at work here, but sometimes getting some rest helps refresh our minds, so we feel ready again when we wake up.
Do something else besides work related tasks; maybe play video games for a while or read about your favourite stories? Make sure whatever activity takes place isn't too distracting from what needs finishing before quitting time comes around (or worse yet: early morning hours!).
Have a routine and stick to it
Because you will be working from home, having a routine is more important than ever. The more of a routine you have, the more likely you can manage your burnout effectively. Your routine should include:
A time for getting up and going to sleep
A time for making breakfast (if applicable) and eating meals throughout the day
A time for taking breaks (15 minutes every few hours)
A time for family and friends
The best way to stick with your routine is by setting the alarm on your phone. This is a simple way to help keep track of when you're supposed to wake up, eat lunch or dinner and take breaks. If there are days where work gets very busy (or if there are days where no work gets done), consider extending these times by 15-30 minutes until things settle down again.
Accept that burnout is a real thing.
One of the best ways to deal with burnout is to embrace it and accept that it is real. Burnout is not just a phase, and you’re not going crazy. You’re in a state of physical and mental exhaustion, which can be caused by external factors (like too much work or stress) or internal ones (such as feeling overwhelmed by your responsibilities). It will only worsen if you continue working through burnout and ignore your body's signs for help.
So what should you do?
First, take a break—even if this means taking time off work to care for yourself. It may seem counterintuitive at first (after all, aren't we supposed to be working harder?), but taking breaks when needed will make you more productive overall because you'll have more energy when you’re back at work.
In addition to giving yourself time away from work responsibilities each day—whether by exercising outside or reading a book—it's also important not to let guilt get the best of you; after all: there will always be things left undone, so don't beat yourself up too hard about them right now."
Conclusion
The most important takeaway is that burnout is a real thing, and it can happen to anyone. By being aware of the signs and taking steps to manage them, you can avoid falling victim to this unfortunate but common phenomenon. We hope this information is helpful for you in your work from home experience!
Takeaway: Working from home can be challenging, but with some extra effort, planning, and routine, you can make it work for you.
