How to Prevent Burnout When Working From Home

Do you work from home? Research shows that roughly 5 million U.S. employees now telecommute. Working from home undoubtedly has its benefits. You don't have to drive to and from a remote workplace; you can typically wear what you want; and you'll have more free time to spend with your family. A downside to telecommuting, however, is the potential for burnout. Rather than allowing burnout to adversely affect your productivity levels, you should consider the following tips to prevent it when working from home.

Follow a Schedule

If you're going to work from home, you should follow a schedule to minimize your risk of burnout. Without a schedule, your body won't have an opportunity to acclimate itself to this new work environment. In turn, you may struggle to stay motivated, resulting in burnout. With a schedule, on the other hand, you'll have guidance dictating when you need to work. Following a schedule alone won't necessarily prevent burnout, but when used in conjunction with the other practices listed here, it can certainly help.

Take Breaks

Along with following a schedule, taking breaks will lower your risk of burnout when working from home. A good rule of thumb is to take a 15-minute break once every two hours. Assuming you work a full eight hours, that means you should take four breaks, each of which occurring at two-hour intervals. Breaks allow your body, as well as your mind, to rest. When you return to your work activities, you'll feel more energized and ready to tackle the tasks lined up on your schedule.

Create Boundaries

Another tip to prevent burnout when working from home is to create boundaries. In other words, don't mix your personal- and work-related activities. When you start your workday, you should focus 100% of your time and energy towards working. Once your workday has come to an end, you should then focus on your personal activities. Creating clear boundaries between your personal- and work-related activities will lower your risk of burnout.

Upgrade Your Tech

It may sound unusual, but upgrading your technology can protect you from the productivity-killing effects of burnout. Many people who work from home experience burnout because they are forced to use slow, outdated or otherwise obsolete technologies. If your computer is slow, for instance, you may experience burnout due to its sluggish performance. While buying a new computer requires a financial investment, it can pay off in the long run by protecting from your burnout and increasing your productivity levels.