As working from home becomes more common, the chance of experiencing burnout increases if people don’t find a way to adjust to their new work-life. Working remotely doesn’t mean that you cannot become overwhelmed and exhausted by your workload just as you would while working in the office. We tend to downplay working from home as an easy task because if you’re working from your couch that must be easier, right? Wrong. No matter what location you’re working from, you are not immune to experiencing difficulties and hardships. Here are a few tips for remote employees to help them ease some stress and prevent burnout.
Tip #1- Take Frequent Breaks
Let’s face it, most of us are guilty of being so consumed by our work that we forget to take a quick break to go to the bathroom or to get some food. While you may think you’re doing good by being really productive, you’re actually increasing your chance of burnout. The negative physical effects of sitting for long periods of time at your office desk are widely known, but not taking breaks can also impact remote employees working from their couch or table as well. If you don’t take time away from your work, your brain is being overwhelmed for eight hours a day. To prevent this, try getting up and moving around every thirty minutes, so your brain and body get a refresher. You’ll most likely come back feeling rejuvenated and ready to get started with fresh ideas.
Tip #2- Delegate Your Time Correctly
Unorganized projects tend to cause panic because it makes it seem as if we have a thousand tasks to finish in only a short amount of time. However, if you take the time to look through and organize your projects, you will see that some of them probably are not as important as the others. Instead of letting your workload cause panic, organize your day by making a to-do list of projects in order of importance so you can get a better sense of what you need to get started on immediately. If you struggle with getting organized consider purchasing a daily planner to help get you started. Start the tasks that are more time-consuming and urgent first that way you’re not stressing over deadlines, and you feel a sense of accomplishment afterward. Then when you have time, start on the least important projects next as you’ll be less overwhelmed having already completed the hardest tasks.
Tip #3- Improve Your Personal Life
Your personal life plays a huge role in your job efficiency, even when you’re working from home. It’s hard to focus if you are worried about personal issues with your loved ones. One of the most important relationships that affect your productivity is the one between you and your significant other. If you live with your partner and work remotely, things can get easily tense between you two since you spend all day together and don’t have a few hours alone. If disputes with your partner are affecting your work, try to find the root of the issue. Are there personal space issues? Are you experiencing problems in the bedroom? Whatever the cause is, there’s always a solution. If you’re someone who experiences intimacy issues, it can affect both you and your partner mentally, creating issues when it’s time to start working. Consider medication to help achieve and maintain an erection because a happy sex life can relieve stress and improve how productive you are at work. If you’re having boundary issues, talk to your spouse about personal space and let them know you need some time alone occasionally. You may even benefit from turning a room or area in the house into a quiet space for just you.
Tip #4- Talk to Someone
Don’t be afraid to let your boss know if you are struggling. They are there to help you, so if you feel overwhelmed or stressed, talk to them about it. Let your boss know what exactly is concerning you and ask them if you can work together to come up with some solutions to your issues. This is beneficial for both of you because it lets you get out what you’ve been feeling and it also gives your supervisor helpful insight into how their employees are handling remote work. Communication is extremely important when you are working from home. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to your supervisor just yet about how you’re feeling, then consider talking to a coworker or loved one. They may be able to offer you some advice on how to fix your situation or just be a listening ear because sometimes that’s all you need.
Tip #5- Take a Day Off
It may feel pointless to take a day off if you’re already at home, but it’s not. Yes, you are not in the office, but you’re still working. You still have to get up and get ready to begin your workday. Taking the day off when you feel too overwhelmed to continue is not being a bad employee, it’s actually being a good one. Instead of burning yourself out and producing low quality work, you are taking the time to get yourself back on track. Self-care allows you to tend to your mental and physical well-being when you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or tired. Taking time to care for your needs is not selfish, and it’s one of the best things you can do. If you are not in the right headspace mentally, then it will be extremely hard to focus on your job. To preserve the quality of the work you do, ask your supervisor for a day off. You’ll be surprised how much better your work will be when your return feeling refreshed.
Working from home isn’t easy. The responsibilities are not less, the workload does not stop, and therefore the stress is always present. Burnout does not discriminate, so whether you’re in the office or at home, take note of your wellbeing. Do not be afraid to speak up and don’t feel guilty for telling people that you are struggling. It’s completely okay, and it’s a real struggle that many remote employees face. Hopefully, these tips will help you to stress a little less while working from home and prevent you from experiencing burnout.
