A Discussion: Holiday Burnout Between In-Office, Hybrid and Remote Workplaces

Cator Sparks, Boon Coach

‘Tis the season to start getting frantic at work as we juggle all the holidays, events, travel and of course our full time jobs. Burnout can happen quickly this time of year, no matter if you are in-office, hybrid or working remotely. 

To prepare you for the annual ‘holidaze’ we all feel, here are some tips to prevent burnout, get more present, and find a better flow through the season! As always, coaching is a great way to get unstuck, set some goals and process whatever may come up during this busy time of year.

In Office

First off, be sure to arrive refreshed and give time to decompress on the way home. Morning routine’s are key to avoid waking and rushing out the door, even if you have to get up a little earlier. When leaving work, take a deep breath! Think to yourself about the roses and thorns of the day so you can arrive home to be present and relaxed.

Minimize personal calls/emails/texts during work. You may have family reaching out with travel plans and friends asking when you are having holiday drinks. Take time to respond either at lunch or after work so you can keep a clear mind for work.

Have any office buddies? Make sure to have some social time in your day. It feels good to turn off work mode a few times a day and just have a laugh or catch up with a coworker, even if it’s a quick cup of coffee. 

Hybrid

Hybrid work can feel overwhelming if you don’t properly manage your time in both places. Be sure to have a clear plan! For example, Monday, Wednesday, Friday at home, Tuesday, Thursday at the office. That way you can schedule meetings, errands, and kids events in a manageable way. 

Stick to your normal work hours. If you are working at home, don’t keep emailing after work hours. This is important in order to find that work/life balance always but especially in a hybrid situation. 

Be sure to have a proper work area at home. Sitting on the couch doesn’t cut it as your back will be sure to remind you. If you can't set up a home office, at least have part of the kitchen table you can set up your workspace from a few times a day. 

Remote Work

Since the pandemic, more and more offices have hired folks in far off cities to work with their teams based elsewhere. That can be hard on the people who can’t physically get into the office to connect to their co-workers, employers. In this case, the company needs to be sure to provide some virtual connection so they feel like part of the team. Zoom cocktails may seem like a thing of the pandemic past, but they can still help build connections with remote workers. 

Again, schedule here is key. Treat every working day like you are going into the office. Plan your morning rituals, be in your chair at the same time every morning to start work and be sure to take the breaks you need for lunch and even fresh air! Wrap up at home at the same time you would end at the office.

Be sure to get out of the house! Take a walk, go to yoga or a gym class, keep the body moving so you aren’t sitting in your chair all day. Just remember when you worked at an office how often you got up to walk around to see others and get lunch. Get those steps in!

Finally, a work accountability partner can be a great way to make sure you reach your daily work goals. Whether that is someone you work with or a good friend. You can even send them a list of tasks you hope to complete by EOD and they can hold you accountable.