{"id":8540,"date":"2020-11-01T07:55:26","date_gmt":"2020-11-01T11:55:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=8540"},"modified":"2020-11-01T07:55:37","modified_gmt":"2020-11-01T11:55:37","slug":"how-these-simple-habits-can-stop-work-from-home-burnout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=8540","title":{"rendered":"How These Simple Habits Can Stop Work-From-Home Burnout"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/a>The great work from home experiment has dragged on for six months and running, and it\u2019s taking a toll. According to a <\/span>survey<\/a>\u00a0of more than 1,500 respondents, conducted by the remote job board\u00a0<\/span>FlexJobs<\/a>\u00a0with the nonprofit\u00a0<\/span>Mental Health America<\/a>\u00a0(MHA), remote workers are burned out.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In fact, 40% of the workers surveyed said that longer hours since the pandemic is one reason they\u2019ve experienced burnout.<\/p>\n

Other findings: Employed workers are more than 3 times as likely to report poor mental health now versus before the pandemic. A sizeable 18% of employed workers say they are struggling with mental health issues, up from 5%, and 42% say their stress levels are currently high or very high.<\/p>\n

Read on MarketWatch<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

More than three-quarters (76%) of respondents agree that workplace stress affects their mental health, leading to depression or anxiety, and 17% strongly agree.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just working longer hours. Other triggers I\u2019ve found from interviews with dozens people working from home have been the daily demands of juggling work and family, caregiving for kids and aging relatives, while simultaneously ramping up new tech skills for communicating with bosses and team members and managing projects.<\/p>\n

Meantime, without adequate social interaction for those who are not surrounded by family. loneliness can create depression and a range of other emotional and physical health complications.<\/p>\n

While some workers are returning to the office, many are not, especially workers over 50, who might be vulnerable to the health risks associated with Covid-19, or are working remotely in part-time remote retirement jobs.<\/p>\n

If that\u2019s your experience, I\u2019ve got some advice for you.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Here are tips to help you successfully navigate your work from home reality with your mental health intact from my new book:\u00a0Great Pajama Jobs: Your Complete Guide to Working From Home.<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to speculate on what the new rules of social interactions will be moving forward. In some fashion, use the advice below to help you formulate the best way for you.<\/p>\n

Set workplace boundaries<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is essential to making remote work a success for you and your employer. \u201cThe secret to setting boundaries is to intentionally and purposefully incorporate meetings, breaks, vacations, calls, coffee with friends, and activities into your calendar,\u201d says\u00a0Dan Schawbel<\/a>, managing partner of Workplace Intelligence. \u201cBy doing this, it will force good behavior and alleviate your burnout. Remember that burnout is counterproductive. You may think you are getting more done, but it\u2019s at the cost of your health and happiness, which will eventually wear you down,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Nurture the human touch<\/strong><\/p>\n

One thing we lose when we work from home is the energy, engagement and positive vibes we get from laughing at a co-worker\u2019s joke, making eye contact with someone and smiling, or kibitzing as we wait for the coffee to brew.<\/p>\n

Now that lockdown restrictions have eased, plan time to meet friends, or other remote workers you know who live nearby. This can be a coffee, lunch, or even an afterwork drink.<\/p>\n

I personally have a really hard time with this. Taking time to meet someone\u00a0in person<\/em>\u00a0is a time suck, especially when you have deadlines looming, and who doesn\u2019t? Without question, the day of the date, I complain and am annoyed that I agreed to the get-together. What was I thinking? I have this and this and this to do. It breaks my work rhythm.<\/p>\n

And I have to get dressed in something other than my leggings or jeans and put on some makeup, and that can take time, too. Afterward, however\u2014and I\u2019m not making this up\u2014I\u2019m genuinely buzzing with energy. I\u2019m recharged.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a boost psychologically. Set a specific time period for the break. (And, of course, don\u2019t let your guard down\u00ad \u2014 wear your mask and practice appropriate social distancing).<\/p>\n

That said, I\u2019ve never before talked to so many workers who quickly adapted during the coronavirus work from home orders to using communication technology like Zoom conferencing and are embracing it with stress-busting virtual meetups with colleagues, co-workers, friends and family.<\/p>\n

At the very least, periodically pick up the phone and connect voice-to-voice. This can zap some precious time. I know this because, since I have worked solitary for years, I find that I start jabbering away once I start a phone conversation. I barely realize my thirst for someone to talk to until the conversation gets rolling.<\/p>\n

The good news: I hang up motivated. That time genuinely builds fellowship and friendship and keeps you in the loop with office and industry happenings in a way a typed note or text simply can\u2019t.<\/p>\n

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Zena, photo courtesy of Kerry Hannon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another option if you are \u201cowned by a dog,\u201d as I am, you might schedule a dog walking date a few times a week with someone nearby who also has this activity on their daily regime.<\/p>\n

As you walk along, look up at the sky. Soak in some fresh air. Check out the gardens and window flower boxes of the houses on your street, or wildflowers along the road, if you live in the country. Other positive possibilities: Bake chocolate chip cookies. (Ok, that\u2019s my favorite escape.) Do some mindful meditation, yoga, or breathing exercises. Pick up a magazine article to read that you\u2019ve set aside, or a book\u2014something not on your computer screen, to rest your eyes.<\/p>\n

Call someone you love, say, your mom, or your sister. Laugh out loud. Sip a cup of tea on your porch. Whatever it is that helps you pause and recharge, do it. I like to take a break every few hours and stretch, but you will figure out what works for you. These breaks are essential to your wellness.<\/p>\n

Set up your \u2018office\u2019 in a new spot<\/strong><\/p>\n

Changing your \u201cwork-space\u201d scenery can give you a boost. You might opt to work on the outdoor patio (physically distanced) of a coffee shop, or an independent bookstore with a caf\u00e9, or your front porch.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been known to set up my laptop in the barn tack room where I stable my horse. There\u2019s a strong Wi-Fi connection, and that soothing aroma of leather and horses. At home, my husband works remotely as a documentary editor and producer downstairs. I have the upstairs space at our home. Periodically, we shift floors for some new vistas.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget to eat with an eye to nutrition<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s super easy to forget to stop to eat properly and simply snack all day on chips and sweets.\u00a0 It\u2019s important not to skip meals to keep your brain and body energy humming. Stay hydrated with plenty of water and keep fruit or veggies nearby to nosh on.<\/p>\n

Declutter your office<\/strong><\/p>\n

When people feel low on energy, often it\u2019s because they\u2019re not clearing out as they go. Their e-mail inbox is overflowing. Their desk is a disaster.<\/p>\n

Decluttering is liberating and empowering. It\u2019s something you\u00a0can<\/em>\u00a0control. You\u2019re saying, \u201cThis is valuable; this is not.\u201d It\u2019s a physical, practical way to engage in making decisions about your life and what you want to do with it. Getting rid of stuff brings a new perspective.<\/p>\n

Find a positive image to inspire you<\/strong><\/p>\n

When I\u2019m feeling edgy and stressed,I simply close my eyes and visualize a rolling green field in the Virginia countryside with a sweeping view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I imagine myself aboard my horse cantering in cadence with the wind on my face through the grass. It calms me down. I feel peaceful, and my attitude shifts.<\/p>\n

You might also tape an inspiring image on your office wall\u2013away from your computer and phone. That way, you\u2019ll have to turn to look directly at it, which can be transporting. The very action of shifting your attention away from your computer is a respite. It\u2019s reviving and centering at the same time.<\/p>\n

Since March, for millions of work-from-homers, time has collapsed and work-life boundaries have blurred. None of us know where it is headed, as I discuss in this recent\u00a0podcast<\/a>\u00a0with host\u00a0Susan Flory<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0The Big Middle<\/em>.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re all trying to make sense of our working lives through the murky lens of COVID. Don\u2019t let your mental health be a victim. Practice these simple habits and reach out for professional help if it all feels overwhelming. You\u2019re not alone trying to make it, well, work.<\/p>\n

by Kerry Hannon<\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/a>Kerry Hannon<\/a><\/em>\u00a0is a leading expert and strategist on work and jobs, entrepreneurship, personal finance and retirement. Kerry is the author of more than a dozen books, including\u00a0<\/em>Great Pajama Jobs: Your Complete Guide to Working From Home<\/a><\/em>,\u00a0<\/em>Never Too Old To Get Rich: The Entrepreneurs Guide To Starting a Business Mid-Life<\/a><\/em>,\u00a0<\/em>Great Jobs for Everyone 50+<\/a><\/em>, and\u00a0<\/em>Money Confidence<\/a><\/em>. Follow her on Twitter\u00a0<\/em>@kerryhannon<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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