RECLAIM YOUR FOCUS

five ways to avoid WFH burnout

1 BUILD IN SOME BUFFERS

While we may no longer have to commute to the office or walk across town for a meeting, it doesn’t mean we should be cramming calls in back to back, just because we can. If you’re scheduling a lot of calls, try to give yourself 15-20 minutes breathing room between them to decompress from one and prepare for the other (block out the time in the calendar if you have to).

2 PUT PEOPLE FIRST

When interacting with technology, we can get lulled into forgetting we’re dealing with a real live person, with their own woes and worries. “You are not the centre of their world as much as the device upon which they appear might be the centre of yours,” notes James Cuffe, a lecturer and anthropologist at University College Cork.

3 CREATE PHYSICAL BOUNDARIES

“It’s so much harder to create boundaries between work and home when you don’t have the framework of walking into a physical space and walking out of a physical space,” says Niamh. Even if you’re watching Netflix on the same laptop you were using to work earlier, don’t do it all in the same place. “You need to create a boundary between having a workspace and a relaxation space, even if it’s just a corner.”

4 GET STUCK INTO SOMETHING ELSE

There’s a reason jigsaw puzzle sales have rocketed. Whether it’s mindful colouring, punch needling (oddly satisfying after a stressful day), baking, drawing or DIYing, find a way to spend time working with your hands – it’ll keep them busy (and, crucially, off your device) and give your mind a chance to switch off.

5 FIND SOME HEALTHY HABITS

Incorporating some non-negotiable time to spend in “being” mode will help add ease to your day. “Research indicates that you benefit from just 10 minutes of meditation a day,” says Niamh. Consider “commuting” by taking a walk at the start and end of the day, get into the habit of taking a full lunch break or even try some chair yoga (there are lots of tutorials on YouTube).