Tired of Working from Home? 7 Tips for Beating Remote Work Fatigue

When the pandemic hit last year, working from home was a first for many employees.

At first, the situation seemed ideal. After working through a few technical hiccups, employees enjoyed shorter (or no) commute times, the ability to dress casually — with many likely working in sweatpants or pajamas — and more flexibility in how they structured their day.But that was over 5 years ago. With no clear end in sight for COVID‑19, many remote employees are feeling increasingly tired, unmotivated, and overwhelmed by their work‑from‑home routine.

Below are a few tips to help reduce technology exhaustion and stress while working from home.

1. Communicate using different forms of technology.

• Zoom meetings were extremely popular at the start of the pandemic, but after a year, they can feel repetitive. Zoom still has its place, but consider the type of meeting before scheduling one.

• If you’re speaking with just one person, a phone call may be more efficient.

• For department or team meetings, Zoom may still be the best option.

• This small change can help break up the monotony and reduce video fatigue.

2. Ask yourself: Do you really need a meeting?

Before scheduling a meeting, consider whether it’s truly necessary. Early in the pandemic, employees often jumped on Zoom for everything to maintain human connection — but that may no longer be needed.With many people experiencing technology exhaustion, try alternatives such as:

• Sending a detailed email

• Combining smaller meetings into one

• Using chat tools for quick updates

3. Stick to a routine.

When working from home, it’s easy for different parts of your day to blend together. Try to maintain a consistent routine to prevent this.If you used to wake up at 6 a.m. and enjoy a cup of coffee before getting ready for work, continue doing so. Setting boundaries helps prevent the feeling of “always being at work,” which can lead to mental exhaustion.

Keep your work life and home life as separate as possible.

4. Set up a dedicated workspace.

Even after a year of remote work, some employees still don’t have a proper workspace — which can make it harder to focus.

Try creating a designated work area in your home and equip it with essentials you’d normally have at the office:

A comfortable chair

A desk with enough space

Office supplies

Good lighting, ideally natural light

A proper setup can significantly improve productivity and focus.

5. Don’t multitask too much.

Switching between multiple tasks may feel productive, but it can actually drain your energy faster. Multitasking has its place, but use it wisely and recognize when it becomes overwhelming.

6. Take breaks.

With warmer weather approaching, take your lunch break outside. Natural light, fresh air, and sunshine can boost your energy and help you feel refreshed for the rest of the day.

7. Talk to your co‑workers about things other than work.

It doesn’t have to be anything major — even small interactions help break up the day. You could send:

• A quick “How are you doing?” message

• An interesting news article

• A funny meme

• An inspirational quote

These small touches help maintain connection and reduce the feeling of isolation.How have you been feeling this past year working from home? Do you have any tips for preventing burnout? Let us know!

Guhuza is created in partnership with TorontoJobs.ca.

Guhuza is the new way of recruitment — an innovative Canadian platform that goes beyond the features of a traditional job board. It uses breakthrough technology to instantly match employers and job seekers for the ultimate hiring experience.Our advanced system matches job seekers’ profiles with jobs on our site and ranks them for employers based on required skills. Once a match is made, live interviews can be conducted directly through the platform.

Visit Guhuza.com or our Knowledge Base to learn more.