In a recent Monster survey, more than 50 percent of respondents who are working from home due to COVID-19 said they are experiencing burnout.
What’s more surprising?
Fifty-two percent of respondents in the same study said they don’t have any plans to take “time off to decompress.”
At business intelligence product development company Sisense, leadership understands that working from home can lead to an “always on” culture that contributes to burnout. That’s why they encourage employees to take mental breaks, whether they be for deep reflection or grabbing a quick lunch. The company recently introduced “self-care days” into the workweek so that there’s no guilt associated with connecting with family or prioritizing personal needs.
Chief People Officer Nurit Shiber said making sure everyone has time to breathe ties into a Sisense core value: care. Below, she shares how leading by example is not only responsible. It’s necessary for the future of the business.
What does self-care look like for you?
Self-care for me is getting some quiet time to reduce stress. I enjoy doing pilates, riding my bike and listening to music. Another version of self-care for me is learning something new or trying something I have not done before.
How do you ensure you’re making time for self-care throughout the week?
Be intentional about managing your calendar and make time to take breaks. Set clear boundaries to start and end the day. I try and tune into myself during the day and see if I can detect stress or unrest. If I do, I typically go out for a walk or practice a 5-minute meditation in order to get back to balance. It’s incredible how stepping out of a certain situation and switching context can help shift the energy and increase focus.
As leaders, we also have a responsibility to ensure everyone in the organization practices self-care. At Sisense, we recently launched self-care days to allow the entire company to take a day off with no emails, no meetings and no work in a coordinated way.
These days allow us to breathe and catch up on our lives and spend time with our families or friends. They introduce clear boundaries that everyone is able to respect.
If you’re not practicing self-care, you are not legitimizing it for other team members.’’
What’s the most important piece of advice you have for leaders who are feeling burned-out or struggling to make self-care a priority?
Start a workout routine. Pick one you know will suit your circumstances and make sure to practice it regularly. Block self-care time in your calendar for eating, thinking and breaks. And remember that you are a role model for your team. If you’re not practicing self-care, you are not legitimizing it for other team members. Burnout affects engagement and productivity.
Think of a flight’s safety training protocol: parents are instructed to put on their own oxygen mask before assisting their children. As leaders, it is our responsibility to take care of ourselves so we can take care of others.
