The pandemic hasn’t taken it easy on us, especially us folks who grind it out in front of our laptop screens all day. The transition from office to home hasn’t been an easy one either. Most people think that if you’re working in the comfort of your home, you cannot experience burnout. False! Working hours are a haze, lethargy is real and motivation is on a downward spiral – no matter if you’re stretching your legs on your La-Z-Boy.
Some of the most common symptoms of burnout include irritability, cutting corners, inability to sleep peacefully, restlessness, loss of motivation, anxiety and frequent bouts of all-consuming sadness. Feeling exhausted with the endless tasks and short deadlines? Here are some easy ways to prevent burnout while working remotely.
Communicate with Your Colleagues
Individuals who thrive on social interactions can feel lonely and isolated while working remotely – but why must the conversations come to a standstill? Schedule regular video calls with your favourite colleagues, share a cup of coffee virtually and catch up on all the hot tea. This will significantly help you (and your colleagues, of course) retain your sanity and avoid burnout.
Use the Correct Work Tools
Complex project management and the inability to collaborate effectively can significantly add to an employee’s stress. It’s imperative to use the right project management and work tools to work within teams seamlessly, manage time, assign tasks, visualise workflow and keep the workforce on the same wavelength and page. Using the best of technology and collaboration tools like Trello, Slack, Jira, Planable can help you and your team achieve more in less time.
Design a Reward System
Reinforcements are known to boost motivation and productivity, and even though it may seem silly, promising yourself a reward for anything you do can make you feel a whole lot better about doing it. Got a deadline to meet? Promise yourself your favourite chicken dinner once you do. Got a project due? FaceTime your best friend after. Rewards can lower stress, amplify productivity and avoid burnout.
Ensure Breaks = Relaxation
As experts say, we have to train our monkey mind to function a certain way. Our idea of taking a break may be tending to the kids, helping them with their homework, cooking dinner or browsing through emails. These, however, don’t serve the purpose of a ‘break’, considering the fact that your mind is still deliberating, jumping hurdles and solving problems. To prevent burnout, turn your breaks into moments of unconditional peace so that when you resume, you’re fresh and ready for a challenge.
“Can It Wait?”
We have conditioned ourselves to believe that every single email we receive through the day needs our attention stat – but how often do we ask ourselves, “can it wait?”. Not everything that needs your attention needs it at once. Filter your work on the basis of urgency, instead of treating every task on your to-do as priority. This way, you will tend to what is necessary, and can devote your free time to yourself to unwind and ease up your mind.