This month marks one year from when the pandemic transformed every facet of our work and home lives. Many of you have now been working from home for 12 months with no end in sight. It’s very likely you’re experiencing “work from home burnout.” Being cooped up in one building for all of your personal and work time can start to wear on you. Symptoms of burnout include lack of energy or exhaustion, increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s career, and reduced professional efficacy. Sound familiar? If so, here are three ways you can combat work from home burnout and get back on track!
Take A Day (Or Two) Off
Even if you have nowhere to go, use up those vacation days! Plan a fun day away from your laptop and zoom meetings, whether you escape to an Airbnb or just a different room of your house. Just because vacations are looking a bit different these days doesn’t mean they aren’t good for our mental health!
Get Outside
Now that it’s March, we’re getting subtle hints of good weather. There’s no better time to make a commitment to yourself to get outside at least once a day. We recommend even going as far as blocking time off on your calendar to ensure you stick to this one. Take 10 minutes to walk around the block, clean up the yard, or start work on a garden. Engaging in physical activity and soaking up some vitamin D will do wonders for your productivity and attitude!
Block Off Time For “Passion Projects”
We all have day-to-day tasks that are mundane and uninspiring. Instead of letting these responsibilities drive your workday, schedule some time for your “passion projects.” We love to kick off the day with these motivating ventures, so block off an hour first thing in the morning. This will get you excited to start each day, and you’ll feel productive right off the bat.
Overall, the best thing you can do to avoid work from home burnout is to listen to your intuition. Take breaks when you need them, make time for things that excite you, and communicate with your supervisor and peers. And don’t just stop here; for more workplace advice, check out our blog!
