Are you among the millions worldwide who suddenly found themselves working from home due to the Covid-19 pandemic? Or, maybe finishing up the day’s assignments remotely was already a way of life for you when the crisis hit. Either way, burnout can be just as real and just as difficult to handle. If your initial work-from-home enthusiasm has fizzled out, here are some ideas for how to relight that flame.
Set Boundaries
Set a work time budget and set boundaries when working remotely. Your schedule may not be 9 to 5, but you can still build structure and organization into each day.
- Try establishing set start and end times for when you’re working. You can always make adjustments if needed when family or other commitments call for it. Plan to take breaks and know when to stop altogether for the day.
- You may not be commuting anymore, and while you don’t miss the hassle and traffic, it did give you time to transition into the day ahead and decompress on the way home. You may want to practice some “boundary-crossing activities” that serve the same purpose, such as showering and putting on work clothes in the morning, replacing your drive with a walk through your neighborhood, or slotting in an hour on your yoga mat after you shut down your laptop. Check out this research on switching from work to non-work mode.
Set Priorities
Just as you would at the office, tackle your highest priority jobs first. According to one study, the average worker – even on-site – is only productive, on average, three hours a day. These hours should be free of interruptions or multitasking.
Find Balance
When working from home, it’s critical to draw a line between your personal and professional lives. Don’t feel like you have to be “on” or accomplish something job-related at all times.
- Take days off. Yes, vacation and personal days still count. Do your best to clear entire days to relax and do things not even remotely work-related. Focus on a hobby, binge watch a TV show read just for fun … you get the idea. Just. Step. Away. From. Work.
- Take care of yourself. Because if you don’t, you won’t succeed at work or life, much less balancing the two. Get outside or at least incorporate some exercise or physical movement into your day. And if you need help, ask for it. You can’t cross over to your coworker’s cubicle but reach out via text, email, phone, or that next Zoom session. Also, turn to family members and friends, especially if you start to feel stressed. It’s good to stay in touch with people regularly. They may notice symptoms of burnout that you don’t even see. And then they can help you get things back into perspective
Keep Your Career on Track
Need more tips on keeping your career on track, even during these crazy times? If HR and talent management are your professional passion, consider working with the Search Wizards team of recruiters. HR is our passion too – so much that it’s all we focus on. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.
