Avoid Burnout While Working Remotely During a Pandemic

When we talked about 2020 goals and resolutions, I don’t think anyone pictured the events that have occurred over the past couple weeks. The world has been turned upside down. I’m sure you have been impacted economically, socially, personally and professionally.Everyone has different coping strategies. Because of this, you and your colleagues are likely responding differently. That creates extra tension between your teams. Some individuals are so overwhelmed they can’t keep up with their work. Other’s now have extra free time and less of a commute to draw attention to tasks or projects they would not have done before. This creates an extra element of stress as we all try to manage our communities from the comfort of our homes.For my association, in-person meetings were essential at a local and national level. They were what we invested in and promoted. Now, we can’t hold these meetings. There has been a scramble to create a stronger virtual presence that had been lacking.I was involved in creating a COVID-19 resource page, developed a weekly virtual roundtable series, and started a new registration process for a virtual event. These projects were in addition to moderating and nurturing community discussions during a very trying time. I’ve been a busy bee. Oh, and I have a seven-year-old.This is our time to shine as community professionals for associations. I’ve been waiting for this chance to prove the value of bringing members from around the globe together virtually. Not the best circumstances, but this is our time to prove community value to your members and to your executive team.But…what about burnout and self-care? The first few weeks, I struggled to step away from the computer. I had a lot of projects I was working on and I needed to deliver. But working ten, eleven, twelve-hour days is not sustainable. Now that we are home it may seem difficult to “step away” from your desk. However, it is important to establish boundaries.Here are some tips on self-care while working from home during these crazy, crazy times.Get Dressed! It has been important for me and my daughter to try to maintain as much of a routine as we had before the pandemic. I still get up and go for my morning jog every day. I still shower (my best advice if you are doing a lot of virtual calls). I still put on my business casual attire. I need to feel my best to perform my best. That means I need to put my best foot forward. I’ve also read a lot of articles lately about unconscious bias via video cam. It’s so important (even in a virtual environment) to put your best foot forward.Sit OutsideMost of us as community professionals don’t need a high-tech office. All you need is your laptop. You can easily move to your porch or deck. This has been so important for me. I have noticed that my mood and productivity greatly improve when I’m able to sit outside in the sun and fresh air. My porch has an outlet and I’m able to plug in my laptop and take virtual calls from my porch (just beware of neighbors cutting the grass!). Thankfully, we have a very close-knit team, and everyone welcomes seeing a colleague sitting outside while taking a call. Enjoy the weather, enjoy the day and enjoy your job! So many people don’t have the ability to still be working. Be thankful that we can do our work from anywhere!Schedule LunchI’m going to be honest; I don’t do this, but I know of a lot of colleagues that have started implementing this scheduled time. Block off time on your calendar to step away from your computer and spend some time focused on you. Take a walk, do some crunches, listen to a podcast. Whatever it may be, take thirty minutes for you. You must care for yourself before you can care for your community.Eat HealthyIt’s easy to snack. Especially if you are working in your kitchen. That bag of Doritos might seem attractive but think about how you will feel AFTER you eat them. You are what you eat. Don’t just make what’s quick and easy so you can get back to work. Be intentional. Take your extra time to make something that helps you be more productive and feel better about yourself.Final ThoughtsThese are difficult times. Don’t be too hard on yourself. We are all doing the best we can. Be realistic about what you can accomplish and give your colleagues (and members) grace. You don’t know what challenges others are facing. Do the best you can and connect with others who are trying to do the same! Please connect with us in the Community by Association community. We are here to support each other! We will get through this together! Feel free to message me personally if you have anything you want to discuss in more detail. Online communities have never been more important than right now. Your role as a community professional is so important. Keep yourself healthy and sane so you can help others do the same!