How to Fight Work from Home Burnout

From lockdown due to an unprecedented viral outbreak that shook the world to manage the frustrations that arose due to spending a lot of time in confinement, what more can 2020 serve that's unseen? An unprecedented year saw most employees working full-time from their homes if they weren't laid off from their job. In short, these challenging times are pushing humans to our limits.

A virus changed how we worked and lived, so now the new normal in many countries combating the deadly virus is to work from home. It was observed that the employees who used to work long hours in the office suffered from work burnout. But now the reports are coming that many employees working from home are suffering from work from home burnout.

A CNBC survey finds 69 percent of employees suffering from the work from home burnout and reporting symptoms like tiredness and panic attacks. However, those lucky enough to retain their job might have to keep working from their makeshift workplace, i.e., their homes, for an indefinite period as the vaccination process might take a year or so for completion.

The significant symptoms of workout are not just limited to those mentioned above but also include lack of sleep, irritation, lack of motivation, and anxiety. Since you have read so far into our article, let us give you some insider tips to help you get through your pandemic induced work from home routine.

Make a routine

We were accustomed to the following routine. We used to get up early, dress up, and leave for work. Then come back from the office after being tired and spend some quality time with our loved ones. Since we cannot go out due to lockdown and have the luxury to work from home, we have lost all our routines. This loss in routine is making us not only lazy but lethargic as well. Our insider tip is to create a routine, get up early, dress up (at least change your pajamas) and get ready for work.

Designate a specific place in your home where you work and specify the hours of your work. Do not work extra hours just because you are working from home. That will help you be more productive and make you stay focused.

Go out and take a walk.

If you have a home office and were also working from home, you should take a walk to a calm place; it will help you clear your mind. A refreshing walk goes a long way. Many fitness coaches suggest taking a walk from time to time if you have steady long-hour desk jobs. It will help blood regulation in your body and lower anxiety. Don't forget to leave your phone at your table when you are going out for a walk.

Take frequent breaks

The excessive workload and monotony can irritate even a calm person. If you are suffering from the work from home burnout, you should take a break in your routine work. Home offices are often full of disturbances, so frustration is imminent. Taking frequent breaks will help you break the autonomy, go for a quick walkabout, run a quick errand, have some coffee or tea. You can take any break you love to break the monotony.

A research writer from Research Prospect writes that not taking breaks can impact your productivity by a 40 percent decrease.

Take a day off once a while

My time is an essential tool to assess your situation, both mental and physical. Working continuously can lead to stress build-up that can deteriorate your health and halt your performance. Ideally, try to spend time with people who care about you, love you, and genuinely make your day better.

Chunk your work

Chunking is a great technique to reduce workload and save precious time. It gives a sense of achievement and helps you reduce the stress of pending tasks. It’s a proven technique to reduce work burden and enhance productivity.

Chunking works by dividing an immense task into smaller tasks; after completing each task, you can reward yourself.

Be kind to yourself

This is vital. Be kind to your body; there is only too much that your body can endure, so give your body some breathing space. If you feel that work is becoming overtiring and affecting your output, then it is time to stop. Talk to your manager tell him/ her that you need a break. Everything can wait. Be sincere to your body; otherwise, you will neither produce quality work nor maintain your health.

No work on weekends

Again it’s related to being sincere with yourself. You are not obligated to work on weekends; just because you are working from home doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice your precious rest days. Politely refuse if someone asks you to work on weekends. Treat yourself to what you like the most on the weekends or rest days and practice self-care routines. That will not only enable you to prepare for the next week but also enhance your productivity.

Extra Hours can ruin your mental health.

It's a common misconception that employees working from home have to work extra time to return the favor of working from home; this is absolutely not true. In the modern world, everything is connected, the norms of work are changing, and employees working from home are regular routines. So, only invest the agreed time and don't put in extra hours unless there is an important task and you want to earn extra bucks.

Managing family with work? Set a schedule

Settling into work from home can be quite tricky if you juggle your family life alongside work life. With long, tiring zoom calls and kids running around the house, you might feel burnout by all the efforts that you will have to make to manage both sides together. What you can do is manage your time smartly by setting a schedule of work hours, family time, and break in between your job time.

These tips can help you manage your family and work-life even in times of pandemic, and you can easily cruise through these challenging times. Strike a delicate balance between family and work-life so that you can maintain your life and work in an ideal way.