The team at My TechDecisions, Commercial Integrator, CE Pro, Security Sales & Integration, Campus Safety and our other sister brands have been working from home now for two months.
To say that I’m sick of working where I like to relax and unwind is an understatement, especially since I don’t really have a dedicated office space where I am now. Thankfully, I’m moving in a few weeks and I’ve scoped out a decent office space in the new place.
However, that space will still be just feet away from where I sleep, cook dinner, eat, watch TV, read, workout, play with my dogs and live my life away from work.
According to a recent Monster survey, coronavirus-induced working-from-home burnout is real. More than 50% of respondents working from home said they are experiencing burnout, and 52% said they aren’t planning time off to decompress.
Adjusting to this new reality may have been easier for some, but I’ve had to make an effort to take care of myself while simultaneously getting my work done.
Here are some things that our staff has found to be helpful:
Get movin’
Before COVID-19, I was fairly active and tried to get to the gym a few days a week on top of the occasional jog and walking my dogs. With gyms closed and with being stuck my home staring at a screen for 8+ hours a day, my activity has fallen off a bit.
On days where I make a conscious effort to get outside, go for a run or do a home workout, I feel much better. That translates into better sleep, more energy and more productivity when it’s time to get work done.
There are countless home workout videos on YouTube and other corners of the internet. It could be as simple as jogging in place or doing jumping jacks a few minutes every hour.
You probably aren’t training for a triathlon, so you don’t have to extend yourself beyond your limitations here. Just work up a good sweat every now and then.
Read Next: COVID-19 Will Have a Lasting Impact on Remote Work Trends
Get a pet
If your employer envisions more working from home in the future, you’ll now have more time to welcome a dog or another pet into your life.
This is a big commitment so make sure you’ll have the time to take care of it. Dogs are great for emotional support, but it goes both ways. They need you as much as you need them.
That said, you’ll find yourself outside a lot more if you have a pooch. That can help break up your workday into more easily digestible chunks.
Some research suggests dogs and other pets benefit mental health and can help people suffering from depression or loneliness. My two dogs don’t allow me to get down in the dumps.
Log off when work is over
I have work-related Microsoft Teams and Outlook alerts sent to my phone so I can stay on top of work while I’m away from my computer. According to some of my colleagues, they value their personal lives more than I do.
Some say they completely log off when they feel they’ve put in a full day’s work. While you’re working at home, it’s extremely easy to bring work into your personal life, which isn’t always the best idea.
When you’re done for the day, shut the laptop and turn off alerts on your phone – as long as your job doesn’t depend on you being available 24/7.
Just enjoy being home
For those that quietly celebrate when plans get cancelled and they can stay in and binge-watch a series, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. On the average day, you get maybe a few hours to spend relaxing on the couch with the family and catching up over dinner.
Use this as an opportunity to bring more balance to the work/life dynamic and reconnect with the people living in your home. You know – your family. Remember them?
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