How to tackle burnout during the pandemic

This past year has been something surely out of a movie; a global pandemic which forced everyone into their homes, with businesses shutting down and travel restrictions separating families for months at a time. 

Unfortunately, there is no fast forwarding through this. 

One of the most apparent consequences of this global phenomenon has been the transition of working from home. 

Although initially it seemed like the perfect solution, this new adjustment has surely come with its own challenges. 

Ask yourself this: Have you been feeling detached from your work lately? Have you been feeling lethargic? Do you find yourself failing to look for motivation to complete your tasks? Has your productivity taken a downward spiral? 

If so, these are some major red flags and early signs of burnout and should be acknowledged and worked on from an early stage. 

Davida Ginter, co-founder and CEO of Enkindle Global, a non-profit initiative that cultivates personal well-being to bring about social well-being, and author of 'Burning out won't get you there: cultivating well-being to successfully lead social change', told Forbes magazine she is now seeing new causes of burnout related to Covid-19. 

"The pandemic brings with it a sense of continued uncertainty, which contributes to chronic stress," explained Ginter. "Employers, employees, and those who are self-employed have no idea what will happen next, what the 'new normal' will look like, and how long this will last."

Ginter also discussed 'rumination' - the feeling of hopelessness and feeling restless trying to find a way out of a stagnant mindset. 

"Our energy is reduced when we fight against the odds and then spiral over the thought that no one cares anymore, the world is shutting down, or that we are no longer relevant", she said. 

Fortunately all these symptoms can be reduced or even avoided if one takes the following approaches for a healthier lifestyle and mindset. 

Keep your loved ones close

Even when we cannot be with the ones we love in person, we must remain in touch with them. 

Keeping a connection with those who love us and act as a pillar of support during our hard times can help lighten the burden we carry. 

These special bonds of shared empathy can be formed with a family member, a close friend or even a co-worker.

Go easy on yourself 

We are quick to judge ourselves when a task is not completed the way it was initially planned. 

At times, we are our toughest critics and although that pushes us to do a job better, it can take a toll on us. 

It is crucial in those moments to remind ourselves to breathe and take a few steps back to re-evaluate before falling down the rabbit hole of negative thoughts. 

Learn to accept your failures and try again

We all make mistakes. It happens to the best of us. To be successful, it is normal to fail a handful of times as long as we are able to learn from our struggles and implement the knowledge gained in a new approach.  

If an individual finds themselves stuck and unable to move forward, speaking to someone who they can trust with their vulnerability can prove to be helpful.  

Find a balance

It is vital for those working from home to find a proper balance between professional and personal time. 

It is important to take time off for self-care and well-being to avoid burnout. 

Taking walks, watching movies, reading books or engaging in other activities to reduce work induced stress can lead to the healthy balance needed in our daily routines.