Working from home (WFH) may initially seem like a breeze, offering comfort and flexibility, until the waves of loneliness, unproductivity, and an overwhelming workload hit you.
The constant stream of calls and the blurred lines between work and home life gradually take a toll.
But fear not; there’s an escape from this WFH burnout maze.
In this blog, we’ll share five practical suggestions from experts to reduce WFH burnout and enhance your remote working experience.
Say goodbye to exhaustion and embrace a work-from-home routine that suits you.
What is WFH burnout?
While working from home, you may experience both physical and mental tiredness in the long run.
You’ll experience tiredness that can lead to constant laziness. This is WFH burnout.
Laziness affects your work efficiency, productivity, and overall performance. You’ll find difficulty doing daily chores and become more irritated.
How do you determine if you are suffering from WFH burnout?
You can diagnose it by recognising these signs and symptoms of WFH burnout.
What are the signs and symptoms of WFH burnout?
You can better prevent and quickly overcome WFH burnout once you know its signs and symptoms.
Below are 7 common signs and symptoms of WFH burnout:
- Emotional and physical exhaustion
- Loss of interest in work
- Dissatisfaction
- Laziness
- Frequent headaches
- Irritation
- Trouble sleeping
If you have any of the above symptoms, you’re going through WFH burnout.
To avoid WFH burnout, you must do more than identify the symptoms.
You need the remedy.
Tips to avoid WFH burnout
Below, we’ve discussed 5 valuable tips to help you avoid WFH burnout.
Tip # 1 – Take screen time off
Katerina Sukhenko, Founder & CBDO at Postoplan, says, “Try to stop yourself from using your computer or cellphone during your breaks from work.”
“You can have a hobby as an alternative outdoor activity, including gardening,” Katerina further suggests.
Don’t forget that your mental and physical health is more important than work. If you’re feeling WFH burnout, give yourself a break.
Giving yourself a break doesn’t mean you start scrolling on social media.
The best way to give yourself a break is to go out for a walk, and you can also spend some fun time with your family.
You’ll feel fresh and focused when you disconnect from work during your break.
Tip # 2 – Indulge in some physical activity
“To prevent inactive behaviour while working from home, take lessons with a trainer online or face-to-face,” Katerina says.
“Plan to exercise during fixed days and times to avoid skipping a session due to a heavy workload,” she adds.
Caroline Castrillon, founder of Corporate Escape Artist, also recommends indulging in healthy activities.
“If you don’t foster healthy habits, supporting the people around you will get challenging, whether family or employees,” Caroline says.
If you want to stay active and feel fresh, start working out. Daily exercise makes you physically healthy and keeps your mind active.
Wondering how you can have the energy and time to exercise?
Don’t let this thought stop you.
We know making time for exercise is not as easy as it sounds. But you will become more active once you take daily physical exercise classes.
Exercising or physical activities allow your body to release endorphins, which help you become energetic.
The more energy you have, the less burnt out you become.
Tip # 3 – Have some “me time”
Nicole Lipkin, organisational psychologist and the CEO of Equilibria Leadership Consulting, suggests ‘doing something that feels good’.
“In your ‘me time’, you can watch fun videos, listen to music, and do any activity that makes you happy,” says Nicole.
‘Me time’ doesn’t mean you’re just passing time. ‘Me time’ means spending time on things that make you happy.
For example, if meeting your friends makes you happy, this is your “me time”. If you have any hobby or interest other than your work, then go for it.
Once you finish your work shift at home, take a small break and do the things that bring you peace.
“Me time” is necessary because when you focus on things other than work, you relax your mind and avoid WFH burnout.
Tip # 4 – Set boundaries
Laurel Farrer, CEO of Distribute Consulting, recommends fixed working hours to create a work and personal life balance.
“You can turn off notifications and activate an offline response during your off-hours,” Laurel says.
Caroline Castrillon, the founder of Corporate Escape Artist, recommends setting boundaries to maintain your personal space while working.
“Boundaries are overwhelmingly important for anyone working from home. You need to set boundaries to stay productive during your working hours,” Caroline says.
“If you have family members or others living with you, ensure you’re setting healthy limits,” adds Castrillon.
You may experience distraction and disturbance from your family members while WFH.
These distractions can lead to losing focus on your work, eventually leading to WFH burnout in the long run.
Establish boundaries by informing your family about your free time and available hours.
Additionally, set clear work timings and inform your team members and managers about your work schedule.
Clearly communicate both your available and unavailable hours. Avoid being constantly available during your off-hours, as this can eventually lead to burnout.
Tip # 5: Communicate using digital tools
To avoid WFH burnout, you must normalise over-communication. And to standardise over-communication, ensure you’re communicating about everything.
Nate Davis, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Stride, wants you to overcommunicate using communication tools to avoid WFH burnout.
“Whether you work for a small or a large company, we all rely on digital tools. Digital tools can help you ensure that your work is well-organised,” says Nate.
Nate continues, “In a fully remote company, you must ensure seamless internal communication.”
Focus on listening and talking to your employees. Make an equal balance from both sides.
When you communicate with your employees, your employee will understand their roles better. And once they understand their roles and responsibilities, they’ll engage more with the project.
So how can you normalise over-communication in my remote team?
Use a collaboration tool such as Talk Magnet for seamless communication with the entire team.
Our articles on the best team communication app for enterprises and the best team communication app for SMEs can help you choose one that suits your needs.
Using communication tools can reduce stress and burnout among your remote team.
Avoid WFH burnout and enjoy working from home with Talk Magnet
These 5 practical suggestions by experts won’t only help you cope with WFH burnout but also prevent it.
But adding an effective communication tool like Talk Magnet to the mix will make the entire WFH experience more productive and enjoyable for you.
Talk Magnet is a secure, simple and light instant messaging and communication solution for your remote teams. It’s great to
You can send and receive files, chat with your colleagues, and jump on quick video and audio calls using a single app.
So, schedule a free demo or sign up for free now to elevate your WFH productivity and enjoyment.
