It’s no secret the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the world in more ways than one this past year. Working professionals had to massively adjust their daily schedules as companies moved to remote work business models. Although many professionals reported benefitting from these work-from-home transitions, others are still grappling with the impactful changes remote work has caused, leading to many throwing around the term “post-pandemic exhaustion.”

Dr. Ian H. Newmark, chief of pulmonary medicine at Syosset Hospital, defines post-pandemic exhaustion as “the state of being worn out by recommended precautions and restrictions related to the pandemic and is often manifested by boredom, depression and other psychological issues including physical exhaustion.”

By the end of 2020, many individuals were feeling the impacts of the pandemic. A recent study found that 76 percent of U.S. workers admitted to feeling burnout, with 37 percent citing stress about COVID-19 as a direct contributor to their work fatigue.

Now, as companies decide whether or not to return to in-person work weeks, employees are being hit with even more changes to their daily schedules. As a result, professionals are dealing with additional stressors as businesses make moves to bring back some normalcy to day-to-day life.

A Gartner CFO survey revealed that nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of companies plan to permanently shift employees to remote work after the COVID-19 crisis ends. Additionally, it’s estimated that 70 percent of the U.S. workforce will be working remotely by 2025.

The following steps and healthy practices should be identified and implemented to combat “post-pandemic exhaustion” as employees settle into permanent remote workdays or return to the office for the first time in almost two years.

 

Identify where and why you’re struggling

Do you find it hard to concentrate at work? Do you lack energy to be consistently productive during the workday? Are you having trouble sleeping during the workweek? If you answered yes to any of these questions, chronic burnout might be part of the cause.

Heavy workloads, long hours, a work-life imbalance, and a lack of control of your work are just a few job stressors that lead to chronic burnout. Many impactful problems are associated with chronic burnout, including concentrating, productivity, change in mood, and physical health decline. As a result, when you’re experiencing burnout, it’s vital to implement ways to handle and resolve it as it won’t go away on its own.

 

Explore your mental health options and locate help

Over the years, mental health has started to be destigmatized as society openly discusses it more. As such, the mainstream narrative surrounding mental health has begun to infiltrate industries around the globe as more businesses establish and expand mental health options for employees.

A recent report found that 32 percent of employers have expanded mental health support for their workforce due to COVID-19. Starbucks, Target, and Salesforce are just a few companies that have increased or implemented mental health benefits for staff in recent years.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, mental health services were overwhelmed with inquiries. In fact, according to Headspace, a mental health and meditation application, there was a 500 percent increase in inbound interest from companies seeking mental health resources for their employees in 2020.

If you’re struggling with post-pandemic exhaustion or other mental health problems, utilize the resources your employer may have available to get the help and support you need. Talk to an HR representative about gaining access to these resources. Additionally, you can reach out to the SAMHSA Treatment Referral Helpline or go to mentalhealth.gov to explore an array of support options.

One of the critical steps to managing and improving your mental health is identifying what may be wrong and seeking out the right help for you.

 

Discuss post-pandemic exhaustion with your colleagues

When it comes to your mental health, it’s essential to know your limits in all aspects of your life. For work, in particular, being open with your colleagues and bosses about your post-pandemic exhaustion is one way to manage it. Odds are, if you’re experiencing post-pandemic exhaustion, many in your workplace may be struggling with it, too.

Finding common ground like this with co-workers can make you feel less alone during this challenging time. It can also help everyone impacted by post-pandemic exhaustion communicate and identify the best practices for managing it.

Additionally, communicating with your bosses and supervisors when your mental health declines offers transparency and insight into your work capacity. Through this, you can collaborate with your boss on how your job is impacting your health, what can be done to change it, and the steps that can be taken to avoid it from happening again.

 

Rediscover a work-life balance

Finding a balance between work life and personal life is a constant challenge for many professionals. However, companies’ transitions to remote work in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has blurred the lines between work life and personal life for many.

A recent study found that 70 percent of newly remote workers reported completing work tasks on the weekends over the past year. Meanwhile, 45 percent noted that their hours have increased since going remote due to the global pandemic.

For those working from home or returning to the office, redefining that work-life balance is essential for mental well-being and physical health. Working professionals must implement activities in their daily lives to help them recharge and unplug from work, especially when dealing with post-pandemic exhaustion.

Of course, these self-care activities will range from person to person, but hiking, reading, cooking, listening to music, and playing sports are just a few everyday leisure activities many partake in to unwind and destress.

Sleep is also incredibly important for balancing your daily life. Recent studies show that taking a nap for up to 30 minutes helps the body recharge and refocus. Additionally, taking 1-2 naps a week can reduce the chances of stroke, heart attack, or heart failure and improve your overall mental health.

 

Above all, whether in the workplace or at home, if you’re experiencing post-pandemic exhaustion or fatigue, it’s crucial not to ignore it. Seeking out help from professionals and creating a support system around you are key steps toward managing your mental health during this time of change. It’s also essential to redefine that work-life balance in the post-pandemic world for your mental well-being, physical health and overall day-to-day life.