How To Reduce Work From Home Fatigue
With the majority of office workers now working from home, it’s easy to start suffering from work from home (WFH) fatigue. Burnout is all too common for remote working employees and without the right tools to help break up your day and refresh your mind, you can find yourself physically and mentally exhausted. At Office Furniture Online, we’ve asked the experts for their top tips for productive and proactive home working. From ways to engage the mind to knowing when and how to take a break, it’s the toolkit you need for WFH in 2022!
5 Ways to Avoid Work From Home Burnout
Go for a Walk
Going out for a walk is one of the best ways to alleviate stress and reset the mind. We know that sometimes it’s not as easy as putting on your trainers and heading out for a brisk walk in the park. The weather, your mood and your location can all impact your motivation to get out there and start increasing your step count, but even a short stroll will work wonders. Experts recommend leaving your phone at home or switching it off as you take 10-15 minutes to focus on yourself and your motivation for the rest of the day ahead. Time your walk with a wristwatch to make sure you don’t miss any important Zoom meetings!
Create a Dedicated Office Space
Not everyone is lucky enough to have a dedicated room that they can use as a home office, but a space that’s designated for work is a must for anyone working from home. If you do have an office or study, take the time to clear out any clutter or mess from your workspace. Our home working bundles are designed to offer everything you need to replicate the office environment, from desks and chairs to office storage. If you’re struggling to find a space to work from, even clearing a space on your dining table can work wonders for getting your mind into ‘work mode’ and perhaps more importantly, getting yourself out of it! A clear space for your laptop, phone and stationary, as well as a comfortable office chair, is a must for anyone working from home. Avoid the sofa or working from your bed at all costs, you need clear boundaries between where you’re working and where you relax.
Schedule Productive Breaks
If you’re working in a standard office environment, you wouldn’t miss your lunch break or the chance to visit the kitchen with your colleagues – so why miss the opportunity when you’re working from home? Scheduled breaks are incredibly important, they give you defined timescales to getting tasks done, as well as the motivation to finish your work. Use your time to enjoy a well-deserved break to make a hot drink, enjoy some fresh air or even throw in a quick exercise or meditation session. Try and keep your lunch hour free from work talk, step away from your workstation and enjoy the ritual of cooking and enjoying your meal before you get back to work. It’s easy to skip breaks if deadlines are looming or you have a lot of tasks to complete, however, the time you take to reset will ensure you’re rejuvenated and ready to get back to work.
Create a Reward System
If you find yourself mentally hitting a brick wall, why not create a reward-based system to give you the incentive you need to finish your tasks? A daunting to-do list can send anyone spiralling, especially without the support and motivation of colleagues in a normal office environment. Just like parents use star charts to reward their little ones for finishing their chores, you can create your own system to reward yourself for finishing your work tasks. Small rewards could be having your favourite meal for lunch, indulging in a bar of chocolate on your afternoon break or even pouring a glass of something special when you get to the end of the day. For bigger tasks and projects, why not look at bigger rewards? Treat yourself to some online shopping on payday, or why not plan an early finish on a Friday to enjoy a chat with a friend over facetime? These rewards will not just increase your motivation to clear your inbox or to-do list, they’ll inject some much-needed positivity into your working routine.
Stay Social
We’ve already touched on treating yourself to a long facetime catch-up with friends after a long day, but we want to stress the importance of staying connected during this time. If you’re used to spending your days working with a close-knit team or in a busy, bustling office, switching to solo home working can be challenging. Make the most of online chat systems to check in on colleagues and talk about work projects, or to have a catch-up about life outside of the office. If you’re a manager or team leader, why not schedule video calls with your team to maintain morale and keep everyone in the loop? A weekly Zoom quiz can help bring everyone together and help end the week on a high note, especially if you can share a virtual drink too. Cheers!
Working from home can be daunting, especially with no end date in sight. It’s important to keep yourself in check, both physically and mentally, during this time in order to avoid burnout.
If you are struggling to work from home and need someone to speak to, there are charities and organisations that are there to help, including The Samaritans and Mind.
