Work-from-home burnout and how to overcome it

Work-from-home burnout and how to overcome it


Feeling burnt out from the stress of working at home? Odds are you’re not alone. After more than a year of isolating in home workspaces due to the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of Americans are feeling stress and deep fatigue from a new normal that threatens to drag on into an unforeseeable future.

Although workplace burnout is not a medical condition, the medical community recognizes it can still seriously affect our health and well-being.

According to the World Health Organization, if you have feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion, increased mental distance from one’s job, negative or cynical feelings toward your job or reduced professional efficacy, chances are you may be suffering from workplace burnout.

Luckily, there are some easy steps we can take to cope with this work-from-home burnout. First, outsource whatever you can to take excess stress off your shoulders. Hire a dog walker, house cleaner or babysitter. Find delivery options for groceries and other essentials.

Next, go back to traditional phone calls. Zoom meeting fatigue is a real thing, and returning to the seemingly old-fashioned phone call can help change things up a bit.

You can also try the 90/20 rule, where you do focused work for 90 minutes and then take a 20-minute screen-free break. If this doesn’t help, doubling-down on self-care activities and taking time off will allow you to disconnect from workplace stress and refamiliarize yourself with your favorite pastimes and hobbies.

Lastly, make sure you are identifying your work and nonwork boundaries, and ask yourself it the work you are doing is fulfilling. If not, it may be time to consider a job switch.

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