How To Avoid Burnout When Working Remotely

Working from home has numerous benefits — and many challenges. Consistently getting out of bed and making it to your working space may become more difficult if you’re burned out. Signs of burnout include increased exhaustion and decreased engagement at work, as well as reduced productivity and feelings of negativity towards the job.

Burnout is caused by working too long, a lack of social support, and dysfunctional workplace dynamics. Read on for tips that can help you avoid burnout when working remotely.

 

Take breaks

You may be tempted to overwork and complete all your tasks within the shortest time possible when working from home. This will ultimately lead to burnout. So, give yourself short breaks — they will help you stay motivated and more productive with the tasks that you are engaged in.

 

Build social connections

One of the best ways to build social connections is to visit coworking spaces, where you can meet friends for a quick coffee date and network with other professionals.

These connections can broaden your perspective on the job market and help you solve work-related hassles. The latest coworking statistics show that the industry is rapidly evolving, and more than two million people are working in coworking spaces globally — which means a lot of new connections for you to make.

 

Create clear boundaries for working hours

Remote working without clear boundaries will make your life miserable, and you will likely experience burnout. Avoid this by creating a clear separation between work and personal hours to ensure that family activities do not interrupt your time at work.

 

Create a stress-free space at home

Any stress impacts your productivity, especially as it can lead to negative thoughts about your job — which will ultimately lead to burnout. Ensure that you create a stress-free space at home with few distractions.

A private space is key. As a remote worker, I appreciate silence for maximum concentration, right down to ensuring that my Mac fan doesn’t produce too much noise. Luckily, there are solutions.

See Also: What Is Geoarbitrage?

Schedule time for meals

Many employees who work remotely rarely spare adequate time for meals. When working from the office, your colleagues might invite you for lunch, but things are different when locked in your private working space.

A proper diet is vital when working remotely! Schedule times for meals and ensure that you adhere to them, as eating healthy will give you the energy to propel you through complex tasks.

 

Use tools to carry out repetitive tasks

Repetitive tasks often lead to boredom. It’s on you to find ways to make the work easier — as long as you abide by the guidelines of the company you are working for.

Using tools to automate repetitive tasks can cut down on some of the boredom and frustration that can lead to burnout. The internet is full of such tools, so dedicate some time to finding the right ones for you.

 

Be conscious of time

When working remotely, respect the time limits set around particular tasks and meet your deadlines as often as you can. Failure to meet deadlines will lead to many complications, forcing you to accomplish many things within a short time. This, too, will lead to burnout.

 

Prioritize fitness

Remote employees who do not prioritize their fitness often report a number of negative effects. One of them is suffering from burnout. You can fight this by finding time every day to work out and give your body something to do besides just sitting at the desk.

 

Communicate with colleagues

While working remotely, you will face plenty of challenges, but there is no need to spend hours trying to solve them on your own. Talk to your workmates to solve these problems. If that isn’t possible, try reaching out to your employer and talking to them about your issue. Failure to do this will often lead to unnecessary stress, and the effects will be manifested in the form of burnout.

Also, do not forget about informal communication. You can increase your engagement and motivation by chatting with colleagues via online coffee breaks, playing games or solving quizzes, and attending webinars and conferences via various corporate virtual event software. All of these activities will help improve your mental well-being and prevent burnout.

 

Keep off artificial boosters or crutches

Soft drinks are delicious, but drinking too many can lead to a midday energy slump. With time, you may even suffer from health complications that will harm your productivity.

If you experience burnout when working remotely, do not run for the artificial boosters. Instead, rest. Even though they will give you more energy for some time, you are likely to experience many challenges, and your fatigue levels will increase when the artificial boosters stop working.

 

Conclusion

Working remotely requires proper decision-making. This is the only thing that will keep you from engaging in activities that ultimately lead to burnout. Following the tips discussed above will help keep burnout away from you when working remotely.

Anna L. is a part of MacPaw team. She loves to share her knowledge about her career in tech and everything connected to Mac and Apple innovations. This article is part of Buildremote’s contributor series. If you’d like to share some insights about how you run your remote company, learn more here.