Do you feel like you’re busier than usual, anxious and stressed out even in the comforts of your own home? Here’s the thing – workplace burnout doesn’t only happen when you’re in the office.
With millions adjusting to remote working due to the current Covid-19 situation and celebrating #MentalHealthAwareness in May, workplace burnout is also a risk you might be facing while you’re camped out at the kitchen table and in your pyjamas. Here are 3 signs to look out for and what you can do about it.
Lack of Motivation
The very first sign of a workplace burnout is losing your motivation. If you are not feeling enthusiastic about your work, beginning to care less about your objectives, or putting in the bare minimum; you might be experiencing a burnout. Other ways that this could manifest would be pressing your snooze button more often as it just feels so difficult to get up and drag yourself to your workstation.
Do This Instead: Start each day for yourself – no work, no emails, no notifications. Whether this is a guided meditation, making a healthy breakfast or getting ready with your favourite song on, close all “mental work tabs” and prioritise on your wellbeing. Put that device away for a while – it’s still going to be there after 10-minutes of “me time” in the morning.
Spiralling Out Of Control
For those of you who feel like you’re losing control over their schedules, interactions and time management, you might be at a greater risk of a burnout. With undefined boundaries of work and home, you might find yourself working longer than you would back in the office. Other times, you also might feel like you’re doing everything without achieving anything.
Do This Instead: Set your work hours, communicate them with your boss and colleagues and then stick to them. There will be times that you have to work late; but try to make that the exception and not the rule. Meanwhile, create a daily schedule that designates time for work, family and yourself to help get yourself back into a routine. It might even help to change out of those PJs!
Create a daily schedule that designates time for work, family and yourself to get into a routine. It might even help to change out of those PJs!
Constant Need To Appear Like “The Perfect Worker”
There has always been an obsession to be Employee Of The Month. As we shift to remote working, you might worry even more that people are going to think you are slacking off at home (even though we know that’s not the case). This could be exhausting to keep up and drain your energy.
Do This Instead: Set clear expectations with your manager, and set your status ‘away’ for when you’re taking a break, in a call or a meeting (i.e. situations where others could see you’re engaged in a normal setting).
On the other hand, managers should be more flexible with set expectations and deadlines during this time. Remember: having a dedicated workspace in the office with no distractions are undoubtedly different from the dining table corner in a house with two kids.
For other wellness tips, follow our WealthUp Instagram account (@wealthupwithus) where we’ll be sharing a #MentalHealth check in every midweek.
