Here’s how to avoid work from home burnout in the New Year

PHOENIX — The coronavirus pandemic may keep most of us working from home well into 2021, but there are adjustments that can be made to avoid burning out.

“There was burnout that came with that,” said Courtney Nelson, senior director of marketing and communications at Goodwill Industries. “There was exhaustion from having to be moving so quickly all of the time, plus being virtual and learning new things.”

In the new year, Nelson said schedule meetings at five or ten minutes past the hour.

“Take those five minutes or those ten minutes to get your kids situated, maybe get them a snack, help them to answer a school question, or get them started on a new craft,” Nelson said.

She noted it’s important to have time to walk around in between virutal meetings.

If you do get sick or feel mentally drained, she said it’s okay to remember to take a sick day.

“A lot of employees just forget that sick leave exists,” Nelson said. “If they’re working at home, and if they come down with a cold and don’t feel well, they think they need to work through it because they’re in the comfort of their home. They don’t.”

Nelson said sweet potatoes may decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol and sunflower seeds have Vitamin E to boost mental health.

It’s also important to remember to disconnect and don’t work outside of business hours.

“Step away from the computer,” Nelson said. “You’re almost working all the time now, because your office is either in your dining room, or in your office in your house that’s a few steps away from where you’re watching a show.”

Nelson also said to monitor your time online after hours so you’re not pulled away from your families.

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