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Employed workers are more than three times as likely to report poor mental health now vs. before the pandemic (5 percent vs. 18 percent). For more advice on how to look after your own mental health and supporting colleagues while working from home, visit Mental Health at Work. Make time to socialise virtually – schedule in a digital coffee break or Friday online get-together. Try to take lunch and regular screen breaks, and give yourself time to concentrate on something else so you feel more focused when you return. Even just 5 to 10 minutes of short breaks each hour can really help your productivity too. These simple tips can help you feel more productive and motivated, and take care of your mental health while working from home. Employer programs (step challenges, activity points, healthy habits, etc.) can also help to motivate employees to be active and can add some friendly competition if that fits the office culture.
Offering a stipend for a gym membership or home workout equipment is a really great benefit as well. Remember that healthier employees also tend to be happier and more productive. Take the time to step back and review your current at-home working situation. Then, ask yourself what could be done to improve it and make you feel more at ease while working. That way, you’ll not only help improve your level of productivity, but you’ll also keep the potential of burnout at bay. Home-related burnout is a serious concern for a number of employees but, with the right level of time, dedication and attitude, it needn’t be. The key thing to remember is that it’s OK to give yourself a break.
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Working remotely is not a new practice for some professionals. According to the Office for National Statistics,nearly 14% of professionals in the UK worked from home in 2017. This number has increased significantly in the wake of COVID-19, which could prompt more flexibility from employers for remote work in the future. Employers should make sure data protection obligations are maintained and employees using their own computer should still process information in compliance with data protection principles. Employers should remind employees about home security, confidential information, passwords, shredding etc. Employers should confirm in the contractual arrangements if the employee is expected to cover the broadband cost or if the employer will contribute towards these costs and, if so, to what extent. The employer should also confirm any IT support and responsibility for repair or replacement if the employee’s equipment is used.
Burnout can sometimes make you feel more lonely, especially if you’re working from home by yourself. But by keeping plenty of human interaction, you can be assured that you’re not alone. By implementing a healthy work from home diet, you can make sure you’re properly energised and motivated throughout the day. You should also aim to make time to cook healthy meals, as this can give you a reason to step away from your desk and take a break from work. You could enlist the help of a colleague or friend who is also working from home and keep each other accountable for taking your breaks throughout the day. You’ll find that your personal productivity will be vastly improved, plus you can help combat work from home stress. You could also combine your breaks with exercises to improve posture, like desk exercise and stretches which can ease back and neck pain.
Personal Growth
If work makes you feel you don’t have quality time for your partner or friends, read Relate’s tips onrealigning your work-life balance. They include scheduling time together, getting help with chores and childcare and making every second count if you don’t have much spare time. It’s really important that remote teams still get together for non-work related chat. It can help your employees feel less lonely, build friendships and morale. When working remotely, social time can easily be forgotten.
- Our page onstresshas ideas to reduce it, for example, through exercise, eating well or supportive friendships.
- Make time to socialise virtually – schedule in a digital coffee break or Friday online get-together.
- Online meetings require a different set of skills that include asking coaching questions rather than directive questions.
- There are several reasons for this, not least the fact that some workers feel the need to prove they are working at all times so need to be readily available.
Taking a break is essential for relaxing, resetting and coming back to work feeling rejuvenated. And with the pandemic having put the brakes remote work burnout on foreign travel, people are more in need of a getaway than ever. In fact, experts say that management burnout has reached record levels.