Working from home can be convenient, but it also comes with challenges–whether you’re working full-time, part-time, or you have a virtual internship. The idea of not leaving your house and being stationary in one spot all day is daunting in a different way than commuting to an office and being surrounded by people. Working from home may feel draining at times, but it doesn’t always have to. 

According to this article from Forbes, “Employee survey comments around burnout doubled from March to April, increasing from 2.7% to 5.4%, suggesting that it’s a growing threat to the productivity and engagement of today’s workforce,” the study reads. Those who struggle with balancing home and work are 4.4 times more likely to exhibit signs of burnout. So, here are a few tips to help you combat WFH burnout.

Get Up and Move

Blocking off a certain time each day to move your body can be super beneficial in resetting and recharging your mind in the midst of a workday. In this Glassdoor article, Piper Watson, an Executive Coach, says, “Getting the blood flowing at least once a day – periodically throughout the day, before and after work and on breaks – has several positive effects. In addition to increasing those feel-good chemicals, the increased blood flow that exercise releases can enhance productivity and problem-solving power.” So not only will exercising make you feel better physically, but it will also help you feel clearer mentally.

Schedule Breaks

Scheduling regular breaks from work (even if it’s a 5-minute break every hour) can help reduce burnout throughout the day. There are several apps out there such as Focus Keeper and Stretchly that will notify you when it’s time to take a break. Look into using one of those to hold yourself accountable.

Separate Work and Play

Working in your home environment can be difficult when you’re surrounded by the things that you associate with relaxation (e.g. your TV, gaming consoles). It’s not always easy to separate the two. If you are able, have a designated work space (e.g. an office, the dining room table, a corner of your room) that is in some way separated from where you relax. That way, when you end your day and leave your workspace, you are truly leaving it behind. 

While there are many ways to reduce WFH burnout, not every strategy works for every person. Find what works for you, stick to it, and you’ll be able to recharge and keep yourself from burning out.