5 Easy Ways to Overcome Work-From-Home Burnout

by Katie Conroy

If you aren’t working from home already, there’s a good chance you will soon. Many experts predict that more Canadians will work from home after the pandemic. If your job allows you to work from the comfort of a home office, you may even find the switch refreshing. However, it’s important to watch for conditions which can lead to work-from-home burnout—like a seemingly insurmountable workload or a stagnating career—which may affect up to 90% of workers in Canada.

If you’re worried about experiencing burnout or if you already have some of the main symptoms, like not taking time off or obsessing over your job security, try not to get too concerned. Here are five easy ways to overcome it, courtesy of Content Strategy Alliance.

1. Start Each Day With a Plan

Failing to have an organized strategy for work each day can lead to disarray, wasted time and increased stress. As Reader’s Digest explains, starting your day with a well-thought-out plan can help reduce all of those things. Before you officially begin your workday, sit down and take some time to think about what tasks you need to complete and what goals you want to achieve. Block out periods of time to work on each specific item on your list; you might find it useful to incorporate an app into your plan, like Remember the Milk or Trello.

Another idea is to connect with a professional strategist to help you develop both short- and long-term goals and visions for your work. At the end of the day, you’ll get more done, which will reduce your stress and help you feel more accomplished.

2. Take Frequent Breaks

To avoid burnout, you need to take frequent breaks from your work. You should aim to step away from your work for 5 to 10 minutes every hour of your workday. 15Minutes4Me even suggests taking a long weekend every 6 weeks in addition to breaks throughout each day, and taking a weeklong vacation every three months.

Try to get some physical activity in during each of these breaks; this might be walking up and down the stairs a few times before returning to your desk, taking out the trash, walking the dog or going to your mailbox. Physical activity promotes good physical and mental wellness, and helps you feel more energized when you come back to work.

3. Get Sufficient Physical Activity

Speaking of physical activity, you need to work hard to take care of your body when you’re working from home. You need regular exercise to keep your blood flowing and to maintain good health. Every day, make it a priority to get outside for a 45-minute walk or bike ride. If you don’t have the opportunity to exercise outside, you can run on a treadmill indoors or stream a quick 20-minute video workout.

4. Keep Your Professional Space Tidy

A cluttered professional space will propel you toward burnout very quickly. Messy areas can make stress levels skyrocket until working from home seems completely overwhelming. The good news is that you can do much to reduce your at-home stress level by keeping your workspace tidy and neat. A clean, organized workspace helps ensure a positive energy flow.

5. Get Rid of Negative Influences

Do you have negative influences in your home or immediate office space that are hampering your mojo? It’s time to get rid of them or move them. For example, if there’s a painting in your office that makes you feel tired, bored or stressed, donate it to charity. Give your workspace a thorough cleaning and adjust attitudes and atmosphere as needed. Fill your at-home office with a positive aura and don’t keep anything that leads to negative thoughts or emotions.

Implementing these five tips will go a long way toward helping you avoid burnout while working from home. If you notice any symptoms creeping in, review this list to make sure you’re still incorporating all of these tips.

Look to Content Strategy Alliance for information, ideas and concepts that will help you prosper personally and professionally.