Description:
Remote work’s great for flexibility, but I am exhausted from always being “on.” There’s no commute to signal the end of the day, and work creeps into evenings. How do you prevent or recover from burnout?
5 Answers
Burnout’s the worst, and remote work can def make it sneaky. I started setting strict boundaries—like, I shut my laptop at 5:30 PM, no exceptions, and put it in another room. Also, I take a 20-minute walk every evening to “commute” out of work mode. It sounds dumb, but it resets my brain. If you’re already burnt out, try taking a mental health day and do zero work, like binge a show or bake something. And talk to your manager if your workload’s nuts, seriously.
Mate, I’m barely surviving myself, haha. I cope by keeping a strict to-do list—only 3 big tasks a day, max. Stops me from spiraling into “everything’s urgent” mode. Also, I got a hobby—painting, badly—that’s got nothing to do with screens. It’s refreshing. If you’re burned out, cut yourself some slack and say no to extra projects. Also, naps. 20 minutes in the afternoon, and I’m human again. Don’t let work eat your soul, you got this!
- Daphne Hart: Thanks!! 3-task rule is geniuss imo. How long did painting help ya? 😊
- Ollie Grant: Painting started helping pretty quickly-within a couple of weeks, honestly. It’s less about being good and more about zoning out and doing something totally different from work. Even if it’s a quick sketch, it breaks the cycle. Give it a go!
I hit burnout hard last year, ugh. What saved me was scheduling “me time” like it’s a meeting—block it on your calendar📅 and treat it sacred. I do yoga🧘 or just stare at a wall🧍♀️, lol... Also, turn off notifications after hours; my phone’s on Do Not Disturb from 6 PM. If you’re feeling crispy, take a long weekend and go somewhere with no Wi-Fi. It’s extreme but works. Oh, and therapy helped me figure out why I was overworking myself. Worth a shot.
Try a tiny ritual that actually flips your brain. Put on different clothes at "home office" start and change into comfy clothes when done. Dim lights or switch to warm lamp at quitting time. Declare one no-meeting day a week and set explicit "office hours" so collegues stop expecting 24/7 answers. Works wonders imo!!! 😅✨
- Anonymous: I once worked from the couch for months, ate cereal for dinner, and even answered a 3am meeting in pajamas while my cat walked across my keyboard. Honestly the clothing change and a no-meeting day helped reset me. Have you tried a five minute closing ritual and a firm calendar block for actual downtime?
- Mateo Murphy: Totally - been there with the cereal-and-cat phase, lol. The five-minute ritual is my go-to: close tabs, write 1-3 wins, jot the top task for tomorrow, change into comfy clothes, and toggle notifications off. For downtime, I create a repeating calendar block called Offline (or “Focus/Family”) and decline meetings automatically - treat it like a meeting so others see it. Communicate it once and protect it consistently; it actually trains people to stop expecting 24x7.
Join the conversation and help others by sharing your insights.
Log in to your account or create a new one — it only takes a minute and gives you the ability to post answers, vote, and build your expert profile.
Similar Questions
-
How to set healthy work-life boundaries when your ‘office’ is always accessible?
Working from home makes it tempting to check emails late at night or start work the moment I wake up. What practical tips actually work for creating separation between work time and personal time in a remote setting?
-
Sustainable self-care routines for high-stress remote careers?
Tech industry burnout is real. I’m constantly connected, working long hours, and feeling the mental toll. What sustainable self-care practices have worked for professionals in high-intensity remote roles?
-
How can prioritizing mental health improve productivity in remote work environments?
How can activities like mindfulness and regular exercise help people who work from home to focus better and be more efficient?
-
How can maintaining a healthy lifestyle contribute to better productivity while working remotely?
With the rise of remote work, many people struggle to balance their health with their professional responsibilities. What strategies can be implemented to ensure that physical and mental well-being is prioritized, ultimately leading to enhanced focus and productivity in a home office environment?
-
Why is inconsistent sleep damaging my career advancement?
How does chronic poor or irregular sleep hurt concentration, decision-making, creativity, and long-term career prospects?
-
How to handle isolation/FOMO as the only remote worker on a team?
I’m the only fully remote worker on my team; everyone else is in the office most days. How can I handle feelings of isolation or ‘Fear Of Missing Out’ on informal discussions, decisions, and team bonding?
-
Effective mental health practices for isolated remote workers?
Feeling increasingly disconnected and experiencing mild burnout. How do you maintain mental wellness when working entirely from home?
-
How can I manage anxiety when returning to the office?
I’ve worked from home for two years and now my company is asking employees to return full-time to an open-plan office. I’m experiencing increased anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disruption; how can I manage these health issues while maintaining my productivity and career momentum? What practical steps can I take to request a gradual transition,...
-
How to encourage remote employees to take breaks/vacation?
How to genuinely encourage remote employees to take proper breaks throughout the day and actually use their vacation time to prevent burnout, especially when an ‘always on’ culture can easily creep in with WFH setups?
-
How can remote workers truly ‘switch off’ after work in a home office?
Working remotely from a home office, the lines between work and personal life get incredibly blurred. My laptop is always *right there*. What are some practical, effective strategies to mentally and physically ‘switch off’ from work mode and reclaim personal time in the evenings and on weekends?