Burnout isn’t an entirely new concept in the work world, but it’s fairly new when it comes to work-from-home (WFH) arrangements.
We’ve left all traditional forms of work that we know of like the back of our hand and were forced to make quick adjustments to keep the ball rolling. But at what cost?
As your home becomes your office and days get mushed together, it can all get a bit too much too soon. Luckily, we’ve got some tips up our sleeve to help you minimize WFH burnout.
Create a space that’s just for work
Find an area that’s relatively private and quiet that has enough space for you to do your work. You can transform this space into your home office where you can be your “work you”.
Set up your desk along with a good office chair and other office essentials such as pens, papers, staplers, and the like. While you’re at it, why not add some decor to spice things up?
If you don’t have any room at home, consider getting a quaint shed or maybe try out some coworking spaces around town.
Let other members of your household know about your WFH schedule and the times wherein they can and can’t come in. You can even hang a sign on your door as a reminder.
Don’t skip your usual work routine, just modify it.
Do things that you would normally do to prepare for a usual day at the office. Take a shower, get dressed, do your hair and makeup, and prepare your morning coffee.
Did you know that the way you dress affects your mental functions? Data shows that dressing formally, as you would at the office, enhances many high-level forms of thinking.
You have the right to disconnect.
Just because you’re home doesn’t mean you have to make yourself available 24/7. You need to respect your work-life boundaries and ensure that your coworkers respect that, too.
Make time for meals
As obvious as it sounds, working from home can make you lose track of time. For some, they put off taking a break for meals and end up working overtime.
This can increase the likelihood of burnout since your body doesn’t have the energy and nutrients to perform at its best.
During meals, try to make it a habit to set your computer and phone aside to peacefully eat. Take this as a time to rest your eyes from staring too long at the screen, too.
Office hours are still a thing despite WFH arrangements
Learn to set boundaries and limits because you can’t be an effective employee when you’re burnt out.
Respect your office hours. Meaning, don’t entertain work-related stuff past 5 PM or whenever your time-out is at.
Let others know, too, by informing them of your schedule. You can even put up an automated out-of-office reply to emails sent outside office hours.
Take care of your physical, mental, and emotional health
Once you’re overloaded with stress and tasks, it’s difficult to get out of that slump. If you need to, take a break to fully recharge before getting back onto the field.
As much as we hate to break it to you, exercising has a ton of benefits that can significantly reduce mental, emotional, and physical stress.
Exercising can relieve knots on your shoulders as well as put you in a better mood altogether.
If you need a little push, why not hire a personal trainer to help out?
Communicate your concerns to your team heads
If you’re really struggling with getting back on your feet, try tactfully communicating your situation to your team heads.
Workplaces usually have a ton of mental health activities and resources that you can use. Many also have in-house or partner psychologists that you can speak to.
Burnout is normal, even for the most dedicated and skilled employees. There is nothing to be ashamed about.
That ends our list of ways to how to minimize WFH burnout. We hope that our tips help you get back on your feet and avoid getting burnout in the future.
Say, if you’re eyeing ways to improve your WFH set-up, check out our recommendations here: