How to Avoid Burnout When Working From Home
Burnout is a culmination of cognitive, physical and emotional exhaustion. Typically, burnout comes as a result of unmanageable stress and prolonged fatigue. It is the overload and strain we put on our physical and mental health.
Ultimately, the stress that you put on yourself leads to serious consequences, both mentally and physically. It can often be summed up as a total breakdown of your body.
Neglect Burnout
When you feel helpless, incompetent or unable to keep up with the daily demands you face, whether at work or home. This type of burnout can start with demotivation and passivity.
Overload Burnout
When your goal-getting mindset means that you don’t let anything stop you in the search for success. For example, you are willing to risk your personal life and health to achieve the pinnacle of your career.
Underwhelm Burnout
If you feel bored, underappreciated, under-stimulated and under-challenged, you can end up distancing yourself from work and not being able to enjoy the activities you used to love. You may avoid responsibility and ultimately have an overwhelming sense of disengagement and helplessness.
All three of these types of burnout can cause an overwhelming sense of overload. This is where you can’t see beyond your current, exhausting and often soul-destroying situation.
How To Recover From Burnout
Remember, burnout isn’t a sign that you’re weak; it is a sign you are doing too much.
Focus on mindful activities that calm your mind and switch off the constant chatter.
Prioritise your sleep with a wind-down hour before bed allow yourself 7-9 hours of interrupted sleep.
Find ways to stimulate your creativity through fun activities that you enjoy.
Put time to relax in your diary – this will be the only way to block out time for you.
Remember the number of hours you work is not a competition or a badge of honour.
Give your phone use a schedule and switch your devices off when it’s out of hours.
Talk to someone; you are not alone in facing a burnout struggle.
Remember who you are and focus on what you want to be, not what you ‘do’.
