3 ways to avoid burnout when returning to the office
We have all experienced stress at some point of our lives. College finals, our baby's first few weeks at home, even a new role at work.
But what happens if that stress continues? Like for a LONG TIME? It may be burnout.
According to Very Well, Burnout is a reaction to prolonged or chronic job stress and is characterized by three main dimensions: exhaustion, cynicism (less identification with the job), and feelings of reduced professional ability.
Now that some of us are back in our offices in person, how can we continue some of the rituals we did at home that brought balance to our days?
I have a few things I do every day, no matter what:
I don't check email or scroll social media. And I eat a real meal if possible- no Cheetos or "diet" food. Before the pandemic, pizza was my go to in the campus dining hall! Now, I review the menu on the website in advance and use this Cooking light guide to make my choices.
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2. I "unplug" at the end of the day
I know some of us are managing projects or people that stretch beyond our home time zones, so :"unplugging" may not be an option for you. But you can certainly silence your audible alerts so that you are not being interrupted during family dinner. And keep an eye on how many hours you are working- if you have 10 hour days Monday through Thursday and have a few hours of free time on Friday afternoon? Go to the museum! Go golfing! Or just lay on your couch and watch Little House on the Prairie reruns.
3. And finally, I stay connected to the people who mean the most
Working remotely (initially) made me (and many people) feel like I was on an island! That daily interaction I used to have to troubleshoot, plan or just catch up was suddenly replaced by faces on a screen.
But I quickly set up one-off coffee dates to keep in touch with the people who are important to me. This way I had weekly interactions even when I was working from home.
What do you do to avoid burnout at work?