5 Ways to Stay Zen and Avoid Burnout While Working from Home

Working from home has a ton of benefits. Because we don’t have to waste our time traveling to work, we can spend more of our day in our sweatpants, and everything we love is right there within our reach. 

 

But here’s the thing – when we don’t have to travel we don’t change our environment at all, when we’re constantly in our sweatpants we feel downright dowdy, and when the things we love are within our reach we’re constantly distracted. 

 

Like the saying goes, you can have too much of a good thing. But while the pandemic lasts, most of us will have to keep working from home if we want to stay safe, so we don’t have much of a choice about how we spend our day. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean we’re doomed to burn out and feel frustrated all the time. There are plenty of ways you can minimize stress, and we’re here to highlight a few. 

Find a way to get some exercise in

Exercising can feel downright transcendent when we’re stressed. As lazy and tired as this pandemic might be making you feel, exercise is a great way to actually shake yourself from that stupor and do something incredibly good for your body. 

 

Yoga is particularly useful here because it’s a soothing, patient activity that will help you get in touch with your body and ease any back pain or muscle aches you might have developed as a result of sitting around all the time. Of course, yoga is not your only option. If you’re looking to give yourself a nice glow up and get fit, you can follow a workout plan.

Feed your brain to sharpen your focus

If you’re having trouble concentrating, then a nice snack can give you a boost. In general, it would be a good idea to lead a healthy diet if you want your mind and body to get all the necessary nutrients to feel good, but if you’re looking for a quick fix, a snack will do. 

 

Grab yourself some brain food: a handful of nuts, a few pieces of dark chocolate, some berries, or a tasty nootropic drink that contains a blend of caffeine, vitamins, and nutrients that can improve your mental energy. Taking a break to grab a snack is also beneficial: it can give you the chance to rest your mind for a few minutes before resuming work. 

Use small hacks to help you stick to your schedule

Pretend you’re going to the office to get your work done. Get up on time, and get dressed the way you would for work, and then pick a specific room or corner in your home that will be the official “work space.”

 

It might sound silly, but these little hacks will help your brain switch between work mode and rest mode when you’re unable to change your environment. Something as simple as washing your face and putting on a touch of makeup and a nice blouse can make you feel more alert and put together. Also, as soon as your “shift” is done, move away from the work space and go rest in a different part of your home. This will help your brain make that much-needed distinction that the pandemic robbed you of. 

Start meditating

What’s more zen than meditation? Meditation doesn’t have to last a long time, and you don’t actually have to empty your brain completely (that’s actually impossible). As little as 15 minutes of meditation a day can help you center yourself and calm down when you’re feeling overwhelmed, and it will make sure you’re more aware, alert, and rested. 

 

If you have trouble concentrating on meditation, you could light a candle to help you relax and hold your focus, or you could even follow a guided meditation track. You can check out Headspace if you want to try a mindfulness and meditation app that’s good for beginners. 

Organize social events

Don’t isolate yourself more than you have to. While we have to avoid gatherings and keep socially distant in most cases, this doesn’t mean you can’t use Zoom or Discord to stay in touch with your friends. If you’re fully vaccinated and have a friend who’s also fully vaccinated, you could even organize a fairly safe meetup! 

 

Friends and family are exceptionally important because they help ground us and remind us that we’re not alone and that we have support. So, call your loved ones regularly and enjoy their company. There are plenty of ways to have fun even if you have to be socially distant, and hanging out can remind you to laugh and stay positive. 

 

We hope you liked our little tips. As you can see, there are plenty of ways to boost your mood and stay calm even during these stressful times, and you just have to find the one that suits you.

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How Women Can Become Software Engineers

 

From buildings and bridges, to ultramodern products, websitesand applications, engineering touches almost every facet of human life – changing the world for the better. Usually, SMBs and enterprises hire dedicated development team to create a new product or implement technical tasks they lack experience in.

But, did you know that even now women make up only 13% percent of the engineering workforce?

Despite all the talk around gender diversity, inclusivity, and women empowerment, the technology landscape still has space to accommodates many more female engineers – there aren’t that many yet. Ever wondered why? 

Perhaps because of deeprooted, but a bit misplaced, ideas about gender roles in our society, upbringing, and ideologies. The pink aisle in the toy store is dedicated to little girls who are expected to spend their childhood playing with princesses and dollhouses, while the boys’ toys are way more diverse and technologically driven (think drones, remote-operated cars, Lego, and video games). 

Believe it or not, around age 6, kids begin to develop or lose interest in science and technology. This, in turn, may dictate career choices in the future.

The fact that women continue to be a minority in the software engineering space is down to the conventional notions around this field of work. 

 

Common Misconceptions and Challenges

Boring, intimidating, tedious, monotonous, and male-dominated are some of the terms that are generally associated with software engineering. However, except for the last one, the rest of the words are far from the truth. Unlike conventional opinion, engineering isn’t boring. It is, in fact, quite the opposite. 

The misconception that this domain is tailored for male engineers, and there is no place for women here has been defied by several female software engineers. Breaking free from toxic notions and practices, many women have successfully shattered the proverbial glass ceiling. The first female engineer at Google, Marissa Mayer, for example, was at the forefront of successful projects and products like Gmail and Google Maps. She eventually went on to spearhead Yahoo!.

Mayer, Julia Liuson, Natalia Burina, Jade Raymond, Kimberly Bryant, Leah Culver, Saron Yitbarek, and Jessica McKellar are just a few examples of women who are software engineering stalwarts.

If anything, the scope and involvement of women has only increased in this area in the recent past. Ask people in the industry, and they will vouch for the fact that having the female perspective makes things better. 

How can women become software engineers? 

The United States’ Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted a 13% growth in the employment of software developers and a 19% increase in the demand for app developers in the 2019 to 2024 period. 

This spells good news for girls who aspire to make a long-term career in software engineering and app development. 

These golden tips from women who have broken that glass ceiling in the software arena can ensure that you carve a niche for yourself in this domain: 

 

1. Get the right education

Any career you choose begins with acquiring the right set of skills. Formal training is extremely important when it comes to an intensive field of work, like software engineering. As mentioned above, the minority aspect of the industry reflects in the education system, too (or vice versa). However, now, a lot of young women are opting for a career in the software field, getting a head start with top-notch courses like NEIT’s degrees in software engineering, bachelor’s, or associate’s.

2. Work hard

Software engineering is one field that requires a lot of hard work and dedication. While some people are naturally gifted and good at some subjects, ultimately, it all depends on how much hard work you put in during your engineering program and even after you enter the industry as a professional. 

3. Be fearless

The apprehensions around male dominance and the complex nature of work might make you feel like you don’t belong here, but the only way to rise above this challenge is by facing your fears. Don’t be afraid of challenging the status quo, taking risks, or getting out of your comfort zone. 

4. Keep evolving 

The world around is constantly evolving and the only way to survive and thrive in the software engineering sector is by striving to upskill and learn continuously. Keep that curious streak inside you alive and burning – at no point of time should you feel like you know it all.  

 

5. Put your hat in the ring

The field has endless opportunities for both men and women; all it takes for you is to believe in yourself. It is also important to understand the various avenues and roles in the tech industry and find out which specialization excites you. 

 

6. Network

Talk to like-minded professionals in the industry and attend as many events and seminars as you can in order to build your network. Did you know that there are events and workshops for coding enthusiasts where you get to learn and work on practical projects simultaneously? You can also have meaningful conversations with other people (especially like-minded women) in the software engineering domain, share your ideas, thoughts, and struggles, and learn from their experiences. 

 

7. Never lose your creative voice

The last thing you want to do is fall prey to the notion that software engineering and coding are dull and uninteresting things. Make sure you find your creative voice and sustain it by being innovative and artistic with everything you do!After all, one little thing you do as a software engineer ultimately makes a difference to someone’s life – apply your artistic skills to your job and you will never have a boring day at work. 

 

And now for the last piece of advice – have fun!

With business organizations, big and small – Fortune500 companies and start-ups – acknowledging the place of women in the tech space, it is a fantastic time to enter this industry. Be the change you want to see. All it needs is a mountain of confidence and leap of faith.

The term “Software Engineering” was coined by a strong woman  mathematiciancomputer scientist and engineering legend, Margret Hamilton.

About The Author

Carrie Weisman is an experienced journalist and content creator. She has worked across different business verticals, and specializes in creating well-researched, in-depth articles for Fortune 5000 companies.
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