It looks like telework is here to stay, folks. Now it’s time to combat that daily burnout battle that haunts teleworkers on a daily basis. We are all familiar with the shuffle from the bedroom hallway in pajama pants to the office space where you rush to find a collared shirt for the unforeseen, unsolicited, and unplanned video conference meeting. We all can get burnt out in various ways, including working in absolute convenience from home. Those of us who can work from home need to understand teleworking is a luxury.

The telework option has become popular based on organizations cutting overtures that seem to be the root cause of spreading infection – at this current time. But the one thing that has not been addressed is how teleworkers are supposed to bounce back from the burnout battle of no separation from home and work. You may have a designated office or closet to “close off” your workspace for those who are lucky. At the same time, others may have to use a combination of a kitchen and/or living room as a workspace. Either way, it may be hard to separate home from work.

While dealing with the burnout battle several times during the last year and a half, I thought I would provide some helpful burnout bounce back techniques that may assist with this continued teleworking aspect we may be dealing with for a bit longer. To start off, a body in motion is a happy body. Exercising has always been one of my favorite ways to shake off burnout. Getting your body moving can increase endorphins in your body that could help you to feel better. It may be cliché, but it is true. Get outside, get moving, get happy.

Have a chat with a friend or group of friends. Communication is another huge burnout bounce-back technique that has been proven to help affiliate good feelings with connecting with people. Whether it is a short chat (socially distanced) or a long facetime call, a chat and a laugh with friends is always a good time.

Breathing long and deep. Slow breathing may assist in improving moods and express feelings that allow connections with others. We all have some of the same feelings associated with a lack of connection and breathing deeply provides for a connection on an emotional level with yourself. This small, yet powerful action can assist with combating feelings of burnout.

Shut it off. Turning off electronic devices is a simple yet helpful tool that can assist with combating burnout. During these telework days, millions of people are staring into the laptop abyss and engaging in video/audio communication daily. Your eyes and brain need a break. The laptop camera is not a real person, and our social circle is larger than the “talking heads” of profile pictures you see every day. Powering down electronic devices several hours before bed can help to assist with declining the feelings of burnout and physical fatigue.

Rediscover yourself. When was the last time you engaged with past hobbies? Too often, the older we get, the less time we have for engaging in hobbies that made us extremely happy when we were younger. Now with working from home and no end in sight with telework options, it’s important to reengage in hobbies that were once out of reach because of a lack of time. One of the great aspects of teleworking is immediate access to your time based on not commuting. If you use to paint, pick up some paints and brushes. If you loved to read, go by your local library and pick up some books or order some books. Either way, find what makes you happy and reconnect with it. Trying some of these burnout battle bounce-back ideas may be a sure way to help combat you combat the battle of burnout.

Jenice

Resources:

Strangis, A. (n.d.). Bouncing Back from Burnout: Tools for Restoring Balance and Regaining Enthusiasm. Retrieved 2021, from http://www.nnoha.org/nnoha-content/uploads/2015/12/Bouncing-Back-from-Burnout.pdf

10 Tips for Coping with Burnout. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://allonehealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Handout-Coping-With-Burnout.pdf