You’re alone in your office for hours. Work is piling up. You’re stressed and feeling burned out, but you can’t find the motivation to get things done. There’s got to be something more out there for you.
The only time you see people is when you have meetings. Yet those meetings leave very little time for anything besides the agenda and what “needs” to be covered. Many times, they are booooring, so you find yourself tuning out instead of leaning in.
You enjoy working from home, because you’re by yourself, which has its good moments and not so great ones.
You feel like you’re more productive at home, because you’re in your space and able to do things the way you want, when you want…for the most part.
But it’s also easy to feel lonely, which can lead to feelings of isolation. Then your mind wanders, and you feel that itch….the itch to get out, to talk to someone, to feel connected, to share a story and listen to someone else’s. Then that’s where your focus goes, which keeps you from getting more done.
Feeling distant may entice you to leave your job, or try something new, hoping to find that connection somewhere else.
However, if you feel isolated working from home, another job isn’t going to help unless that company culture emphasizes connection and fun.
If lack of connection leaves you feeling disappointed and wondering how much longer you can keep working like this. There are ways to feel joyful and recharged again.
Here are Three Ways to Connect and Combat Burnout:
- Go into the office—no matter how much you like working from home, it’s important to go into the office at least once a week. We’ve all discovered over the past couple of years the power of in person contact. There’s nothing quite like getting a high five or hug from a colleague or sharing the latest thoughts on a TV show or your kids’ sporting events. When you do this, you connect with your peers on a different level, which will re-energize you and reiterate how much you love working there.
- Go to lunch—if you don’t want to go into the office, invite someone to lunch or snack time once a week. This enables you to take your time, sit back, relax and enjoy someone’s company. You’ll leave with a renewed sense of self, as though your cup was filled. You can invite someone new out every week, so you’re connecting with people from different departments or positions. It’s also a great way to get to know others in your company.
- If meetings are boring or don’t leave time to connect, change that. Start with a two-word check in, where people have the opportunity to quickly give a couple words on how they are feeling. This allows them to not feel alone, and also gives you a chance to follow up with them when they share trigger words like stressed, burned out, sad, overwhelmed, or exhausted. You can ask them how you can help, which lets them know you care about them as a person and not just a worker.
Also, make sure each meeting has an element of fun. The more fun people have at work (and in meetings) the longer they stay at organizations. Whether it’s trivia or Would You Rather, you can input games and humor into your meetings. When people feel overwhelmed and overworked, fun is the first thing they take out of their days, and it’s the #1 strategy to help combat burnout and stress. People want to have more fun, especially in meetings. When they do, it increases their engagement, morale and productivity.
Burnout impacts every job, industry and organization. It’s time to be intentional and strategic to prevent work burnout, because it won’t fix itself on its own.
When you’re feeling isolated working from home, find ways to connect with others, to invigorate you and excite you for your job. You’re making a huge difference and creating an impact, so it’s vital for you to take care of you.
How will you begin connecting on a deeper level to combat burnout?
We can help. Reach out for ways to increase engagement, productivity and morale in your company.
