Lockdown Burnout
As working from home becomes the norm, many will have found their flow, setting up a comfortable environment and getting in to a good routine to get going each morning. However there is a new challenge facing many – switching off.
Between managing workloads in a different way, perhaps shouldering additional pressure that has hit your organisation and living through a pandemic, there is a possibility that numerous people are heading towards a burnout.
But who is going to spot it? With no one there to keep an eye on you, to see you sobbing in to your cup of tea, or to remind you to take a break it is important to be self aware and recognise the red flags of lockdown burnout.
Struggling to put things in to perspective
There seems to be endless thoughts that cannot be processed leading to a sense of helplessness. If exhaustion is reached it can become hard to even resolve minor problems.
Daren’t delegate
Energy might be down but instead of passing work to your very competent team or even to someone senior, the thought of not having control is beyond comprehension
Constantly checking emails
Compulsively checking emails, first thing in the morning, last thing at night, or anytime your phone is by your side as you dread what could be coming in and not being up to date.
Showing any of these signs may mean it is time to act to ensure you don’t reach total burnout.
Although easier said than done the following tips can help balance the home work life balance, reducing emotional anxiety and stress to ensure lockdown burnout doesn’t occur.
Create a work plan
Sounds simple but if you write down your priorities and stick to them it will allow you to remain focused and manage your workload – avoiding the risk of overloading. Share this plan with your team to manage expectations and encourage them to do the same thing.
Discuss
Talk to your colleagues about decisions you are having to make. Sounding out problems can often allow the answer to jump out at you, or if not, your team might have an answer. Talking through with others will also naturally put issues in to perspective.
Log off and switch off
When you have finished with your working hours ensure you shut down your computer and pack away. If the temptation is out of sight it will help get it out of mind. The same goes for emails on phones – if you don’t have them on you won’t be tempted to check.
Don’t bury emotions
Burying emotions can often seem easier than dealing with them, however creating an emotional volcano can only lead to one thing, an eruption. Living through emotions as they happen can help rationalise the situation long term and limit knock on effects to other areas of your life.