by Insights
As remote work quickly becomes the new norm across the technology world, companies are enjoying increased productivity and even some cost savings. Employees also appreciate not having a long commute into work, as well as the additional flexibility to their schedule.
However, when working from home, it becomes easier to suffer from burnout. After all, not traveling to the office each day leads to a blurring of the work-life balance. In this situation, taking some time off becomes critical to ensure everyone stays engaged and focused. Let’s look at a few ideas on managing your time when telecommuting.
When to Take a Full Day Off as a Remote Worker
Sure, remote working provides additional flexibility with the daily schedule, allowing time to take a long lunch or extra breaks. Still, there’s no substitute for a full day off when it comes to preventing burnout. Determining when to take a vacation day requires some self-analysis.
For instance, ask yourself if you’ve been performing at full efficiency over the last few days. When you dread walking across the hall to your home office, chances are good you need a break. Reach out to your manager and simply ask for a vacation day. Take a similar approach whenever you feel sick. Don’t try to power through the workday just because you are at home.
Employers also need to encourage their staff to take days off when necessary. This is an important part of keeping your team engaged when remote working. In fact, it’s something good managers also do when everyone is in the office.
Don’t Try to Fit Eight Hours of Work into a Half-Day
Sometimes you might take a half-day off for a doctor’s appointment or some other task. When doing so, don’t try to accomplish the same amount of work in a half-day. This only increases your stress levels; potentially leading to job burnout. Simply work four hours, leave your home office, and shut the door.
Managers Need to be Proactive to Prevent Employee Burnout
Again, managers must keep their finger on the pulse of their remote staff. Regularly meet with them to stay up to date on their stress levels and overall health. Even a simple text message works for this purpose, although a one-on-one video chat is more effective.
In the end, keeping everyone engaged and inspired is important whether the team is working from home or at the office.
When you need help building a great tech career, speak with the team at Technology Partners. As one of the top IT staffing agencies in St. Louis, we provide great insights on the local tech job scene. Schedule a meeting with us soon.
