How to Avoid Burnout in a Remote Team

Encourage your remote teammates to take breaks | Photo by Tommy Lee Walker on Unsplash

Working remotely has many benefits. It allows you to set your own schedule and work at your own pace. But there’s also an increased risk of burnout. Without the social engagement and structure of a traditional office job, it can be easy to overwork yourself. The best way to deal with burnout is to prevent it from happening. Here are some tips on how it can be avoided.

1. Time management

Having structure and routine is essential for a healthy work-life balance. Working remotely often means you’ll be on a different schedule from your colleagues, possibly even in a whole different time zone. This is why it’s important to communicate with your boss. Find out how the rest of the team works and what’s expected of you. Be clear with your boss about your needs and expectations. Come up with a schedule that allows you to manage your workload efficiently with minimal disruption to your work-life balance. Set a clear boundary between the time that work finishes and your life begins.  

2. Take breaks

When planning out your schedule, don’t forget to factor in break times. This means making time to rest, eat, clear your mind, kick off your shoes and relax. Schedule a full lunch break and shorter breaks throughout your day. It may seem counterintuitive, but stepping away from your work can help increase your focus and productivity. It’s equally important to take longer breaks too, whether it’s an occasional three day weekend or a full-fledged vacation. Taking time for yourself can go a long way to preventing burnout.

3. Make time for human interactions

Working remotely can be a lonely lifestyle. This isolation contributes to burnout because you miss out on important social interactions. It also makes it harder to switch off and you risk overworking yourself. Make the most of any available systems that allow you to keep in touch with your colleagues. Things like group chats, conference calls and video calling can help you connect with your team and make you feel less isolated. It’s equally important to nurture your non-professional relationships and get social. Spend time with friends and family, get out and do things that will take your mind away from work.

4. Look after your physical health

Taking care of your body is one of the best ways to help avoid burnout. When working remotely, it can be tempting to indulge in excess amounts of coffee, energy drinks, and junk food to help keep you going. These substances can aggravate symptoms of burnout and can actually cause it to happen faster.

Rather than chasing short term energy boosts, choose healthy food and beverages that will make you feel better in the long run. It’s also important to get in enough exercise and sleep to help keep your body and mind healthy. Make this a part of your daily schedule, even if it’s just doing some stretches or taking a walk during your lunch break. This can go a long way to prevent exhaustion and to help you feel refreshed and energised.

5. Look after your mental health

What separates burnout from exhaustion is that burnout is as much of a mental burden as a physical one. It doesn’t just affect your energy levels; it affects your concentration, motivation and happiness. This is why it’s especially important to take care of your mental health. If you’ve followed the previous steps, then you’re already halfway there. Social interaction, taking breaks and looking after your body are all great ways to look after your mental health. But there are other things you can do too. By practising meditation and mindfulness, you can reduce your stress. This will help you avoid reaching the point of burnout because you’ll have a better awareness of your physical and mental limitations.

To put it simply, the key to avoiding burnout is to look after yourself and strive for a healthy work-life balance. This can be difficult for remote workers without the support and structure of an office environment. But with a little bit of effort and planning, you can create a schedule and form habits that will help you feel motivated, engaged and energised at work.

Writer Maia Fletcher is a freelance writer from sunny Gisborne, New Zealand. As her work entails long hours in front of the computer, she usually spends her weekends meditating and admiring her city's beautiful coastlines. Read more of Maia's work on her blog.