What To Do When Work From Home Isn’t Working For You

Shot of stressed business woman working from home on laptop looking worried, tired and overwhelmed.

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Working from home is proving to be exhausting and hectic for many Americans. Juggling between child care, household chores, and work demands is never an easy task. Living through job insecurity, record unemployment, and a pandemic makes things even more difficult.

According to Monster.com, 51% of fully remote workers suffer from burnout. It is, therefore, quite normal for you to experience work-from-home burnout. Luckily, all is not lost, and you can bounce back using a few tips and tricks. Let’s take a comprehensive look at what to do when work from home doesn’t seem to work for you anymore.

Create a Routine with Strict Boundaries and Limits

Breaking the constant cycle of work and exhaustion is easy when you set strict boundaries and limits. Although realtors work odd hours, you need to take small breaks throughout the day. Start by creating a complete routine with designated working hours. Put your phone away and spend quality time with your friends and family.

Don’t respond to work emails outside the working hours, and avoid eating lunch at your desk. It will also help if you schedule a 30-minute break somewhere in your work schedule. However, ensure your routine matches your company’s norms, expectations, and culture.

Don’t Forget About Self-care

Because working from home can be demanding, most people fail to schedule some time for themselves. Contrary to what you might think, you don’t need a lot of time for self-care. All you need is two ten-minute breaks each day — once in the mornings and once in the evenings.

Use this time to do quick mindfulness exercises, smell a fragrance you like, take a few deep breaths, or watch a short video on YouTube. A bit of ‘Me’ time will do you a lot of good, mainly when your job is demanding. Giving your brain a break from monotonous tasks will help mitigate burnout.

Technology is Your Friend

Several programs and apps can help you reduce workload by automating tasks. A few of these programs can handle a vast array of jobs, thus saving you a lot of valuable time. You will, therefore, have more energy and free time to work on self-care.

Embrace any pieces of technology that can help you accomplish tasks faster and easier. Automating tasks ensures you can focus on what matters most rather than dealing with unproductive duties. Data entry, for example, can be exhausting without the right software.

Find a Hobby

You need to find a balance between work and play to avoid experiencing burnout. Most people make the mistake of over concentrating on careers that they lose touch with their personality. Well, it’s time to find you a new hobby that fits within your routine.

Consider group activities such as creative cooking, joining a sports team, trying out challenging workouts, or learning a new art. They are an excellent choice when you need to mitigate remote work isolation. Luckily, advancements in technology make virtual group meetings and interactions possible.

Schedule an Off Day to Relax and Recharge

When you are experiencing work burnout, you must take a day off. Ensure you structure the day to look different from all the other days. For starters, make plans to spend time with family and friends. You could also schedule for meditation or exercise, depending on what makes you feel relaxed and recharged.

Ensure you completely unplug from all work-related issues. Turn off all work notifications and forward all tasks to your co-workers or team. It will also help if you make a rule to avoid thinking about work during your day off.

The Bottom Line

Unfortunately, work from home burnout is real and can affect anyone of us. However, you can avoid or mitigate it using the tips above. 

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