10 Ways to Prevent Burnout
Even life pre Coronavirus coping with workplace burnout was an important focus for businesses.
However, the Coronavirus Pandemic has had and is still having a huge impact on everyone across the UK.
The effect of lockdown on people’s mental health should be a major priority for many businesses.
With this in mind, it is even more important for businesses to recognise the risks of workplace burnout and ensure that employees do not feel overworked.
With the health and wellbeing of employees in mind, I thought I would add a few of suggestions some we have mentioned in previous articles.
Set up your own space - if possible, set up a specific space in your home for work. This should have a desk, a comfortable chair and plenty of natural light.
Prioritise your day - be clear what your focus is for the day. Prioritise the most important jobs and make your Line Manager and any team members aware of what you and they need to focus on; sharing your calendar will help. By sticking to a daily task list, you can keep things realistic and feel as if you have achieved something by the end of the day.
Say no when you have to - it is likely that the way you are working now is changing on an almost daily basis. It is more important than ever to have the courage to say no when things become unmanageable. It is all too easy to be a people pleaser. You should prioritise your work within the hours that are available to you, be confident enough to say no before your workload starts to become unrealistic.
Do not skip breakfast or lunch - it is important not to eat at your desk in the office. Just because you are working from home, does not mean that this should change. Have your breakfast before you switch on your laptop/PC or look at your phone. Get away from your desk to have lunch. It is even better if you can get outside for some fresh air at the same time. Make sure that your lunch break is an actual break from work. You will feel a lot more motivated when you get back to work in the afternoon.
Stick to your regular working hours - there is evidence that employee’s hours have increased during lockdown. It is important to remain consistent. Make sure that you “leave work” when your working hours are over.
Do not check your emails out of hours - sticking to your regular working hours should mean that you won’t feel tempted to return to your computer. Unfortunately, smartphones can make it all too easy to check your emails. Switch off notifications for your work emails after hours. If you do not, you run the risk of feeling drained and affecting your sleep pattern.
Have some “me time” - you need to give your brain a rest from “work time”. This could be quality time with your family, a new hobby, cooking a meal or simply having some time alone. Whatever it involves, some consistent “me time” will tell you that the workday is over.
Try not to be negative - this is a stressful time, so it is understandable that you might be feeling more negative than normal. Try to focus on the positives in your life.
Have regular check-ins - we are social animals, regular human interaction is really important. It can be easy to become distanced from your work colleagues and sometimes your friends while working from home. Simply calling someone on the phone can help them feel less isolated. Make sure that you have regular check-ins with your Line Manager and team members. It not only allows you to keep on top of work activity across the business, but it also means that you can catch up for a chat. If you are all zoomed out, go old school and pick up the phone.
Stay active - active working is just as important when the workplace is your home. Encouraging activity in the workplace is now a priority for most businesses. This can be difficult when employees are not in one place. It is vital that you give yourself time to stay active during work hours. Take yourself off for a virtual walking meeting on the phone. Going for a walk or run before or after work is a great way to do this but the potential ills of sitting for prolonged periods is well known. Make sure that you break up your day with regular time away from a screen that gives you the chance to stretch your legs.