Throughout the past few centuries, most individuals would be working from offices since this will help them concentrate and focus on their tasks. But with recent innovations in communications technology and the invention of the internet, many employers and managers can tap into a wider workforce that won’t have to go to the office. With remote work being on the rise, businesses can now start incorporating a work-from-home set-up for those who are hundreds of miles away from the workplace. Not only will this cut down on travel time, but this can help optimise productivity.
For many individuals working at the office for around 40 to 60 hours a week, working from home sounds like a dream come true. After all, you won’t have to spend hours in traffic while you can still do your daily activities at home. Although working from home will give you more “flexibility” to do whatever you want, this is also one reason why most individuals working from home are stressed. In fact, studies have shown that a lot of individuals who have shifted from working in a traditional workplace to working at home set-up will have a more difficult time with transitions.
In certain situations, people can experience burnout while working from home, which can have a lasting effect on productivity and how work is being managed. But it’s still possible to reduce stress while working from home. So what are some steps that you can take to prevent burnout and the build-up of stress? Here’s what you’ll need to know.
Burnout and Stress
But before we can discuss ways of relieving ourselves from stress, we have to discuss key elements when it comes to burnout and what usually causes it.
It’s important to remember that stress is a natural way for our body to respond to external stimuli. Stress can come in both good and bad forms since our body can be “stressed” when it’s too exciting or when it senses danger close by. Still, stress will play an integral role in our lives since this will give us a sense of self-preservation or as a key driver in getting work done. Although much of the public will think that “stress” is wrong, having a balance of good and bad stress is key to living a healthy life.
When a person experiences more distress throughout their daily lives, this could accumulate and lead to burnout. Although most medical institutions would consider burnout an official medical condition, other health-related organisations wouldn’t consider it an official diagnosis. Burnout is usually characterised by physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion that can affect productivity and quality of work.
When it comes to working where most individuals are expected to produce results every day, burnout can lead to a disinterest in work or ultimately lead to employees resigning. In some situations, this can lead to a rift in the person’s relationship with others.
That said, burnout is usually quite common in workplaces where workers will need to put in long hours due to deadlines. However, the environment will also play a key factor when it comes to stress.
Working from Home and Stress
Again, stress is usually caused by external stimuli, and we gain much of our emotional and mental energy from our environment. From a business and logistical standpoint, both the employees and the company will save time, money, and effort since nobody will need to deal with traffic or get stressed over unwanted interactions.
But just like any other working environment, working from home will also present its own obstacles. In fact, having no clear distinction between work and home could be one reason working from home is considered stressful.
One of the most significant issues that most people working from home face is that there’s no clear distinction between work life and non-work life. One of the reasons why most people at the office can work efficiently is that it’s easier to compartmentalise work from the office. Most people will usually associate their home with rest and entertainment while the office is a place to perform.
But even though you are working from home, you can still renovate your home and set aside a working space. This space can help tune out any distractions while also being a “designated” area that people can laser-in on their work. If you’re planning on moving to a new home, you might want to consider getting a property that’s just large enough that you’ll have your own working space. Fortunately, some real estate agents can help you find a suitable property for your home that’s conducive for working.
Although working from home might be stressful for those who don’t have a place to work, compartmentalising their working environment can help lessen stress. Having a strict schedule and effectively disconnecting yourself from work can also help reduce the likelihood of burnout while you’re working from home.
