Work-from-home employees often encounter mental health challenges. It could either be due to a lot of reasons that result in burnout and isolation. Thus, if people have a home worker job, they need to check their routine if it’s healthy for them.

PwC Philippines reports a survey that out of 1,000 Filipino respondents, 52% said they work in a hybrid setup. This is far from the 27% who work fully remotely, based on the Integrated Survey on Labor and Employment.

Doctors see workplace burnout as something that affects health. For people who work from home, this can be even harder to manage because they don’t have much contact with co-workers or clients, so they have to handle everything on their own.

Why do work-from-home employees need to understand burnout?

The main reason is to protect their health. When you’re not doing well at work, it affects your health. You get tired quickly and feel worn out.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says burnout happens because of long-term work stress. It’s a problem that only happens at work. When someone doing remote work feels burned out, they become tired all the time, negative, and do less good work.

Simply put, burnout comes from working too much, feeling unmotivated, pressure, and a bad work environment.

You take on too many tasks, lose energy, and don’t have a strong support system.

How to manage burnout as work-from-home employees

Here are seven tips and healthy habits to help take care of your health and well-being, and become a more reliable work-from-home worker.

Don’t allow information overload

Everyone has access to the internet, especially social media. Work-from-home employees are prone to misinformation as they mostly communicate online. Thus, taking in a lot of information exposes you to fake news.

Choose reliable sources and avoid click-bait websites. If you keep reading or watching negative content, it can harm your mental health, making you feel anxious and worry about unimportant things.

If you come across something upsetting by accident, take a deep breath, drink some water, and let it go. Focus on the communication channels your company provides and get relevant information from there.

Set clear boundaries between work and personal life

Separating work from your personal life can be hard, especially when you work from home. Make a list of tasks you need to do before starting work or plan to work outside your home on certain days.

You don’t have to do this alone. It helps to have a trusted friend, mentor, or someone who can support you in balancing work and life.

Most importantly, figure out how urgent your work tasks are. After work, use your time to rest, exercise, and spend quality moments with your loved ones.

Make time for self-care

Self-care is a popular topic today. But, there are many types of self-care that you need as work-from-home employees. If your employers offer breaks or vacation time, go for a self-care treatment.

Try meditation and regular exercise to improve your physical health and calm your mind. Also, pursue hobbies or activities you enjoy, as long as they don’t interfere with your work responsibilities.

Some work-from-home positions support work-life balance, so look for these that match your skills and help protect your well-being.

Use time management techniques

Time management refers to planning and controlling your time to complete tasks efficiently. Techniques like making to-do lists, setting deadlines, and giving yourself rewards can help with time management.

Here are some popular methods to try:

• Pomodoro Technique: Work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break.
• Eisenhower Matrix: Sort tasks by importance and urgency.
• Kanban Technique: A Japanese method where tasks move through different stages of completion.
• Time Blocking: Set specific hours for each task to stay on track.

Take advantage of your leave benefits

Paid leaves are important for any business. Using them wisely helps you take care of your health and well-being. Even if you work from home, it’s still necessary to take leave when needed. No job is easy, and everyone deserves this benefit.

Taking time off doesn’t make you a lazy or unreliable worker. In fact, according to an interview with the National Partnership for Women and Families, just showing up without proper rest (presenteeism) isn’t the smartest way to be productive.

Therefore, leave benefits make a positive impact on your health, and burnout is avoided.

Communicate with your colleagues

There are times when you will find yourself in the middle of a breakdown. If you keep your emotions bottled up, things can get worse, and you may even develop a personality disorder.

Seek support from your co-workers. It’s the digital era and everyone is accessible online. However, always remember that your colleagues are not competitors. They are part of the team.

If your workload feels too much and you’re worried about missing deadlines, talk to them or your bosses. This way, your managers can adjust tasks and review roles to help prevent burnout and employee turnover.

Practice a healthy lifestyle

Since most of your work is done at home, staying active is important. While regular exercise is great, eating healthy, nutritious foods and making smart food choices is essential.

Additionally, getting enough sleep is crucial. Remote workers often face time zone challenges; if you have a remote part-time job, you’ll need extra time management skills. Ensure you have the energy to handle another job role; otherwise, you risk burning out.

Live a Healthy Work Style!

In conclusion, work-from-home employees should prioritize their health over excessive work. A healthy mind and body will enhance your efficiency and productivity on the job.

Dedicate time to your personal growth by reading and learning from career advice on platforms like Bossjob. Investing in yourself will not only improve your well-being but also boost your success at work.