For better or for worse, 2020 has been a year of great change. The COVID-19 pandemic flipped the entire world on its head, drastically changing how we live our daily lives. One of the most significant changes has been the global shift to more remote work setups. While the adjustment was drastic for most offices, many employees welcomed the opportunity. After all, working from home is more comfortable than being confined in an office all day.
After several months of remote work, however, the reality of the situation has set in. People are feeling burnt out. What was once an exciting working experience has now become routine, and like most routines, if not managed correctly, has begun to take its toll on people. The honeymoon phase is over but work still needs to get done.
Considering the pandemic still greatly limits one’s movements, what can be done about remote work burnout?
Structure Your Workdays
The most immediate adjustment to working from home is that it tears down traditional work environments. The distance between your office and home is now non-existent. The problem with losing such boundaries is that it makes it easy to overwork yourself. Back then, the act of leaving the office and going home was a clear way to switch off your brain from “work mode.” Now that you both live and work in the same place, it can feel like the “work mode” switch is always on.
That feeling of being “always on” is what quickly leads to burnout. This can cause you to slip into bad work habits. Considering the distractions around you at home, it has become easier to be neglectful about work duties. The irony of that situation is that putting off work will only force you to work more hours than you should. Procrastinating only means you’ll need to spend more time catching up later.
In cases like this, you simply need to be stricter on yourself about your work hours. Allot a specific amount of time per day to be in “work mode” just as if you were still going to the office. Use that mental clock to push yourself to finish your work duties for the day.
Make Time for Hobbies
Having work-life balance is as important as ever in these unique times. That requires good time management. By switching yourself off from “work mode”, you can start spending time on hobbies you’re passionate about. Whether its painting, exercising or reading, these hobbies play a crucial role in keeping your mind balanced. Especially after longs days working, it feels like a great payoff to spend time on something that relaxes you physically, mentally, and emotionally.
From a practical standpoint, keeping your mind balanced greatly benefits your work productivity. Hobbies are great for de-stressing yourself while keeping your mind sharp. If you’re starting to feel like your old routine has started to get monotonous, try out something new for a change. We all have some extra time on our hands these days. A new hobby will also give you something to look forward to once you log off work.
Give Yourself a Break
While travelling may be off the table these days, it doesn’t mean taking some time off work won’t do you some good. You may still have to stay home, but at least you’ll be giving yourself some time to recharge. It can be anything from a day to a week, but use the time to balance yourself out, especially if you’ve been feeling like work is absorbing too much of your energy. Treat it as a break from the regular routine that’s been wearing you down.
Even pre-pandemic, “staycations” were great for spending more time with things that bring you joy. More time with your family, a good book, a few movies, these are all great ways to make the most of a break at home. Time away from you’re your routine stressors will give you an immediate boost and get you ready for when the time comes to start work once again.
Outsource Design Work
It’s important to remember that you’re not the only one working remotely these days. Even before things went into flux, the gig economy was rising fast across nearly all industries. The current situation just pushed both freelancers and companies alike to make rapid adjustments in their workflows to offer more services remotely.
If you ever feel out of your depth with work, reach out to outsource services. Whether you need graphic design, copy work or even animation, there is a vast number of professionals today willing to help. These collaborations will ultimately help lighten your load while also giving you a tremendous resource for future projects.
SlideGenius, Your Invaluable Partner
As a presentation design company since 2012, we’ve experienced our fair share of work and productivity struggles. What pulls us together is our shared passion for helping our clients succeed. From our artists, writers, web developers, animators, and project managers, we utilize our expertise in presentation design to spark invaluable growth.
At SlideGenius, we are eager to be your partner during this challenging time. Contact us today for all your presentation needs!
