How to Avoid Work from Home Burnout

Burnouts can occur due to work-related stresses when an employee reaches physical and mental exhaustion. It can also happen due to experiences of loss of identity or a reduced sense of accomplishment. This phenomenon is quite common among employees who work from home. Some common symptoms of work from home burnout include anxiety, depression, exhaustion, irritability, etc. If you are wondering how to prevent burnout, a few areas could be worked upon. Avoiding burnout while working from home can be achieved through these methods.

Have a Dedicated Workstation

To perform optimally from home, set up a dedicated workstation. Try to make it like your actual workspace in the office with all the necessary things you feel you might need during your working hours. Apart from keeping distractions away, creating such a space will condition your mind to focus on work. Additionally, once you are done with office work, all you need to do is step out of that area, and you can switch your mind off from your work. This will eventually help you avoid work from home burnout.

Make a Schedule that Suits Your Needs

Flexibility is a significant plus point of working from home. While most people tend to operate during regular working hours, some organizations allow people to work at their convenience. One of the main reasons behind this was to break the monotony and avoid burnout while working from home. If your organization allows you to work as per your timing, try to make a schedule that suits your needs.

Take Regular Breaks

Sitting in front of a screen for long hours can be physically and mentally exhausting. Therefore, make it a habit to take a few-minute break every couple of hours. These breaks can also be utilized for household chores that might take your mind off work.

Get Regular Physical Exercise

One of the most significant drawbacks of working from home is staying seated for prolonged hours. If you are subjected to this for an extended period, then it can have a devastating impact on your body. Therefore, it is essential for people working from home to get physical exercise regularly. Take a quick walk – get some fresh air, and sunlight, connect with nature, basically anything that would soothe your mind and body.

Have Certain Boundaries

You might find it hard to separate your personal life from your work life when working from home. Therefore, it is crucial to establish some well-defined boundaries. For example, choose to work only during specific hours and avoid working during weekends. Similarly, restrict your family members from interrupting or coming into your workspace while working. Such boundaries will help you maintain a proper work-life balance.

Switch Off for a Few Minutes Each Day

Try to switch off your mind for a few minutes each day. Turn off your computer and phone outside working hours and during breaks. Refrain from looking at the notifications or answering work-related calls during such hours. This will help you from overburdening your mind and avoid burnout.

Take Time Off

Spending time with one’s family was a break from the conventional office setup. However, the definition of a break seems to have changed due to the work-from-home culture. Since you are already working from home, you must step out of your house if you need to take a break. Try to go on a family holiday or spend time doing things that you like. You may also relax at home but must keep your mind occupied to avoid thinking about work.

Give Yourself Rewards

Working from home might become monotonous and uninspiring. You must adopt specific tactics if you wish to keep yourself motivated in such an environment. A standard method is rewarding yourself for every small or big task you complete. These rewards can be in the form of doing anything you like. For example, if you meet a deadline within the stipulated time, you can just take yourself to lunch at your favorite restaurant.

Practice Self-care

Practicing self-care becomes non-optional while working from home. Since you are always stuck at home due to work, activities like cooking, meditating, gardening, and listening to music can help you relax.

Read Also: Making Self-Care a Priority

Ask for Help

Most people go through bouts of depression while working from home. This can also result from burnout. Therefore, if you wish to avoid that, you must seek help. Try to convey your problems to your team leader or manager. They might redistribute or alter your workload. You can also speak to your coworkers or family members, and/or friends. This can also help in lowering your stress levels. Finally, if the situation persists, you can seek the help of a healthcare professional.

Burnouts are a common phenomenon among all those who are working from home. Even though organizations are flexible in their approach, they often tend to overburden their employees. Therefore, if you are dealing with work from home burnout, you can resort to some of the methods mentioned above.