Work-From-Home Burnout
My advice on how it can be avoided
Do you remember that day? The day we were encouraged to work from home for the next two weeks due to the developing news of the virus. Ten months later and I’m still working from home. It may sound silly, but I keep thinking of the items I left on my desk. Are the photos from the Christmas party still there? Has anyone watered the plants? Hold on, where was my desk again?
Let’s face it, even though a new vaccine is now being rolled-out things aren’t going to change anytime soon so it’s important to think about the impact that this will have on our mental health.
Here are four ways in which we can all avoid a WFH burnout:
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Maintain WFH boundaries
Firstly, get out of your pyjamas and get dressed. It will make a difference to the way you think and feel about work. Also, create a space in your home dedicated to work and implement office hours. Advise your team of your working hours so they know when you will and will not be available. Commit and stick to these boundaries.
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Know what to focus on
Most of us are now juggling family and work responsibilities so it helps to try and prioritise the most important tasks. You might think that you need to do everything at the same time, which will ultimately lead to you being counterproductive and at a higher risk of experiencing a WFH burnout. If it’s not important and can wait for tomorrow, switch off.
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Speak to your teammates
Don’t hesitate to ask for help if you’re struggling. This is a challenging time for all of us so the only way to get through this is to work together. Experiment with how to make your circumstances work for you. Most importantly, don’t forget to book yourself some time off. Give yourself a break, you deserve it!
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Workout and sleep
Try to get into the habit of doing some form of regular exercise, even if it’s just a 10-minute walk. The small amount of fresh air and movement will make a huge difference to your mood. Also, set yourself a sleep schedule and be consistent with it. It’s really simple and will help keep your mental health in check.
Sujata Luchmun