Employees are experiencing burnout at higher rates than ever before. Lack of work-life balance is one of the biggest reasons why.
Most employees have been working from home during the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, many of them have been experiencing increased stress. Difficulty securing child care, working more hours each day, and not taking time for self-care is among the main stressors.
Employees who consistently let their work take over their personal lives may become anxious and depressed. This can lead to burnout.
As a manager, there are steps you can take to reduce the odds that your employees may experience burnout. Encouraging work-life balance can help.
Implement these tips to promote employee work-life balance and reduce burnout.
Provide Flexibility
Give your employees as much flexibility as possible. This may include the ability to work remotely or hybrid and have a flexible schedule.
Your employees who appreciate not having a commute can work from home. Those who find working from home too distracting can work onsite. Either way, your employees should be able to fit in as much work as possible.
Remind your employees that finishing their work on time is more important than the number of hours they put in. This encourages your employees to fit in their professional and personal responsibilities each day. As a result, your employees should feel less stressed and be less likely to experience burnout.
Prioritize Breaks
Emphasize the importance of taking regular breaks. This includes taking a 10- to 15-minute break for every 90 minutes of work and an hour for lunch each day.
The brain needs time to rest in order to stay focused. This helps increase engagement and productivity.
Encourage your employees to walk away from their desks during breaks. They may want to listen to music, meditate, or read a book.
Suggest that your employees eat healthy foods and take a walk during lunch. The fresh air helps clear the mind and promote creativity.
Remind your employees to use all of their paid time off throughout the year as well. They need time away from the office to be with family and friends.
Taking regular breaks is an effective form of self-care. The more your employees take care of their needs, the less likely they are to experience chronic stress and burnout.
Lead by Example
Model the behavior you want to see from your employees. They are likely to follow your example because you are their leader.
For instance, set reasonable hours to begin and end your day. Also, avoid sending emails outside of office hours. Additionally, encourage conversations about what you and your employees like to do away from the office.
Show that self-care needs to be a top priority. You want your employees to take care of their personal needs to avoid working too much and becoming burned out.
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