Tips To Avoid 'Working From Home' Burnout

Life has changed for everyone due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and, for many of us, working from home has become the new norm. Whilst most employers and managers are concerned about maintaining employee productivity; what you really should be concerned about is employee burnout. 

Maintaining a work-life balance is increasingly challenging for both employers and employees whilst working from home.  Many people who are working remotely for the first time are likely to struggle to preserve healthy boundaries between their professional and personal lives. 
So how can we “leave our work at the door” if we are no longer going out the door?

Here are some tips on how people can avoid becoming burnt out and disengaged while working from home:

1. Maintain your work routine - it’s important to maintain as many work and social boundaries as possible. Try to mimic the routine you had when you were in at the office.
2. Recreate the office environment – recreating the office environment at home can make a big difference in terms of preventing burnout. Invest in work-related accessories you might need, then encourage yourself to follow a set working routine.
3. Take regular breaks & walks – it’s important to try and take walks as regularly and often as you can. Getting some fresh air will really help when it comes to trying to getting a refresher from work and keeping your mental health in check.
4. Set Boundaries - it’s important to set boundaries for you and your new at-home ‘colleagues’ (namely your family) to follow. Also, try to put all home-based concerns at the back of your mind while you work - save these tasks for your break.
5. Don’t get hung up on ‘normal’ - we’re all human, so don’t be too hard on yourself to create a ‘normal routine’. Thanks to the pandemic, normal can pretty much be whatever suits you and your situation.