Dealing with burnout when working from home

What is burnout? 

Burnout refers to a collection of symptoms. Burnout can happen if you’re constantly under lots of pressure from work. If you're experiencing burnout, you might feel:

• Exhausted, like you’re drained of energy
• Like you enjoy your job less, or don’t feel motivated to do it anymore
• Like you’re not doing your job as well as you used to
• Irritable
• Anxious
• Physical symptoms, like headaches, stomach aches
• Like you have trouble sleeping

Coping with burnout

Ignoring the signs of burnout and stress can leave you feeling emotionally and mentally exhausted. But spotting the warning signs of burnout can help stop it in its tracks.

• Take your annual leave – time off is important, even if you just stay at home. It gives you a chance to rest and recharge.
• Get enough sleep – turn off your screens and do something to relax before you go to bed at night. If your mental health is stopping you from getting enough sleep, check out our sleep tips. 
• Try to finish on time – sometimes it feels easier to work late into the evening to try and get everything done. Once in a while this is OK, but try to make sure you finish work on time most days. If you're consistently working more hours than you're contracted to, this is a sign that your job is too much for one person – and it's something you should speak to your manager about.
• Schedule in time for fun – it may sound silly, but make sure you set aside specific time for having fun. Whether that's watching TV, doing hobbies, or seeing friends and family. Sometimes, having something non-work related to look forward to can help prevent burnout.
• Ask for help – if you're really struggling with burnout, you might need some time off work to recover. Talk to your manager as soon as you can – remember, your mental health and wellbeing is the most important thing.

Useful resources for dealing with burnout