How to Avoid Burnout While Working Remotely

Many of us transitioned into remote work in 2020.. for obvious reasons. And while some companies recently went back to traditional working models, others, like us, continue to embrace the new hybrid/remote system.

For Beema, working remotely was a pleasant surprise! Our numbers soared, we achieved great milestones, and Beemies enjoyed the flexibility that naturally came with remote work. But working from home doesn’t come without a cost. A 2020 study by monster.com revealed that almost 70% of employees who were working remotely experienced burnout.

So, what exactly is 'job burnout'?

Anyone can experience burnout, whether working remotely or in the office. Burnout is a collection of physical & mental symptoms, some of which include:

• Decreased motivation to work
• Lack of energy
• Irritability
• Fatigue
• Poor quality of sleep
• Deteriorating job performance
• Stress / anxiety due to work

When the lines between work-life and personal-life became blurred, many found it difficult to end the workday as they couldn’t physically disconnect from their workstations. Others found balancing work, Zoom meetings, children, and house-hold chores all in one place overwhelming - especially during a pandemic.

Here are a few tips that helped Beemies avoid burnout while working remotely:

Make sure to unplug 🔌

When working remotely, it can be easy to get sucked into the “one last thing” mentality, which can add hours upon hours to your workday and even affect your sleep. Try to assess if something really can’t wait till tomorrow and make sure to disconnect around the same time every day. If it helps, set a daily alarm as a reminder to wrap up, close all your open tabs, and turn that laptop off.

Eat, eat, eat 🍔

We can’t say this enough: Take. Your. Lunch Break!!! Be it in the kitchen, or in a nearby café – try to take an hour to change your environment, recharge, and most importantly: eat! It can be easy to forget about your lunch break when working remotely, but you need this more than you think. Both physically and mentally. Pro tip: block an hour on your calendar every day dedicated for lunch, and schedule the rest of your meetings around it.

Get moving 🏃🏻‍♀️

Since you’re probably spending upwards of 6 hours glued to your screen, try to dedicate some time each day to get your body moving. Whether it’s going to the gym, taking a short walk, or going bowling with friends – make sure to make time for hobbies and physical activities that will get you out of the house, and more importantly, get you moving. P.S. with Beema's innovative new Health Insurance, you'll get rewarded for staying active. So it's a win-win!

Get social 👥

One of the best parts about work is the connections you make with your colleagues. And when working remotely, those personal connections can be, well.. stagnant. At Beema, we made sure to regularly host online game nights, team lunches, dinners, and events so our Beemies continue to stay connected. We also have a virtual book club where we let our inner bookworms shine! These small things go alone way, so try to make connections with your colleagues that go beyond the boundaries of work.

Get comfortable🪑

It’s important to create one dedicated area at home that can be your mini ‘office’. Avoid working from your bedroom or your kitchen (you know, too many temptations 😴 🍕). Make sure to also invest in a comfortable chair and a desk that won’t give you 90-year-old back pain. You’ll be spending hours in this chair, so the least you could do is get a comfortable one.

Switch it up 🏙️

Working remotely doesn’t mean you have to work from home. Take your laptop to a quiet café or a shared working space every now and then to switch things up. There are many great options in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. Sometimes, a change of scenery is all you need to get back on that motivation train!

Take time off 🧘🏻‍♂️

As is the case with any working model, you need to take time off every now and then to recharge. The same study we mentioned earlier by monster.com found that almost 60% of employees were taking less time off than they normally would while working remotely. That on its own, without any other factor, can lead to burnout - regardless of your working model. Even if you can’t travel because.. well you know 🙄, taking a few days to just relax and disconnect from work is enough to give you that extra boost. Don’t skip on your annual leave just because you’re working from home!

These are just a few of our tips to help you maintain a positive and comfortable working environment, even from home. But don’t forget that this is a transition – so give yourself the time and space to adapt ⏳.

Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin, and let us know how you’ve prevented/overcome remote work burnout!