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Dealing with burnout while working from home

For many of us who are working from home during the pandemic, the blurred boundaries between home and work have made it much harder to switch and realise when we are headed for burnout.

In fact, a recent study by Monster found that 69% of employees working from home are experiencing symptoms of burnout. It’s unsurprising when you consider how many of us are juggling busy work schedules, video calls, home-schooling and household chores everyday.

What is burnout? 

Burnout isn’t technically a diagnosis in itself, but instead it refers to a collection of symptoms. If you are experiencing burnout you may feel completely exhausted, have little motivation for your job, feel irritable, or anxious and you may see a dip in your work performance. Some people also experience physical symptoms like headaches or stomach aches, or have trouble sleeping. 

Coping with burnout

Spotting the warning signs that you might be headed for burnout and taking time out to relax and unwind can help you prevent it. 

  • Make sure you take your annual leave. A lot of us haven't taken as much holiday from work as we normally do as we haven't been able to travel, but time off is important even if you are just at home. It gives you an opportunity to relax 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 causing you to have problems falling asleep you may find our sleep tips helpful. 
  • Try to finish work on time. Without the commute and with the pressures of homeschooling, it's 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. 
  • Schedule in time for pleasant activities: Make time for relaxing, hobbies and calls with friends and family. Sometimes having something non-work related to look forward to can really help. 
  • Ask for help if you need it. If you are struggling with burnout it may be beneficial to take a few days off work while you recover. You might want to talk to your manager about any issues you are facing at work-our Workplace mental health guides can help. 

Need more support? 

You might find our pages on stress helpful. 

Read our stress information

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