BURNOUT DUE TO WORK FROM HOME
Since Covid-19 hit and caused the world to lock down, most workplaces have had to close as well. Initially, most people enjoyed working in their night suits, in the comfort of their cozy beds and couches, but it has not been so easy to manage work with other household duties in the long run. Turns out, a lot of people are burnt-out due their hectic work from home schedules.
What is a burnout?
Burnout is a state of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion due to excessive and prolonged stress. It happens because our bodies and minds are unable to meet the constant demands we make of them.
The WHO stated that burnout syndrome is linked to prolonged work stress and it can cause you to feel demotivated and disinterested in your daily activities. A prolonged state of burnout can cause a variety of stress related diseases such as high blood pressure, weakened immune system, anxiety, heart issues, depression and so on.
What causes a burnout?
With a deadly pandemic underway and all school and work operations shifting to homes, our minds and bodies are being put under unprecedented amounts of stress. Here are some factors that are causing burnouts across the globe:
Increased responsibilities at home as well as at work: Working parents have to take on the extra responsibility of teaching their kids, as well as making sure that all family members are safe and the groceries are sanitized, in addition to their regular household chores. This extra workload can put parents under stress and cause them to burnout.
Loneliness: Since the pandemic hit, people who were living away from their homes and families have experienced loneliness. Social interactions often lighten the mood and are an important part of our general wellbeing. The loss of these interactions can cause us to feel more stressed than usual.
Lack of Inspiration: Being stuck in the same environment of our homes day in and day out can cast a grey cloud across one’s inspiration. This monotonicity can result in a lack of new ideas and motivation that can make one feel unproductive and hence, stressed. Living in these conditions for a prolonged period can easily lead to a burnout.
Missing Work Environment: Our workplaces are meant to facilitate productivity and to inspire us with new ideas. Our homes, on the other hand, are our place to relax and rejuvenate and hence decrease our productivity. Not working in an organized workplace in the company of our colleagues can cause people to not want to work and cause unnecessary stress.
Inability to access coping mechanisms: A lot of people turn to exercise and other hobbies and activities in order to cope with stress. However, during the pandemic, these activities may not be available at homes, thus starving us of ways to relieve our stress and making a burnout more likely.
How can you cope with a burnout?
Create an ideal work routine at home: Try to copy the same routine you had before the pandemic; take a good meal before work, get out of your PJs, take a shower and put on some fresh clothes, take a short walk before you begin work. All these habitual activities can jumpstart your workday from home.
Create a Workplace at home: It could be an extra room or even a quiet corner of your house that can act as a productive space. Make sure to clean up the space so as to avoid any distractions. Turning off all notifications on your phone will also help in creating this workplace simulation at home. Differentiating a workplace in your home can help your mind balance the situation without getting overwhelmed and burned out.
Healthy Habits: Eat healthy meals, have sufficient amounts of fruits and vegetables in your diet, don’t skip meals, hydrate yourself throughout the day, and get enough sleep because our mood and thoughts are directly related to our food intake and how well rested we are. Doing this not only helps prevent burnouts but also encourages a healthier lifestyle in general.
Take time out to unwind: It is important to take time out to relax after a long day of work. Eat dinner with your family, take your pet for a walk, play with the children in the house, or just take a long walk if you can. All of these are good options to relieve the stress of the day because exercise helps you release feel-good hormones that prevent you from burning out.
