No matter what job or role you are in, burn out can happen! Burnout is caused by too much unmanaged stress from work. Some symptoms of burnout include low motivation for work, lack of enjoyment in life, bad work-life balance, and lack of joy in work. How can you avoid it and deal with burnout? Here are some tips.
- Be prepared for it. Knowing that it may happen and having a plan in place makes it easier to deal with. If you know you have a huge project one month, plan a massage or weekend getaway after to celebrate and recharge.
- Schedule in some fun. When you schedule things you like to do it helps keep your excitement and momentum going. Go out to eat, go golfing, or schedule a vacation. This will help you to avoid being constantly stuck in the grind.
- Plan a long vacation. This will help you have something to look forward to during burnout. It also helps you recharge to come back to work with more energy.
- Set new goals. Sometimes boredom can be mistaken for burnout. If you feel like there are no new challenges or goals to accomplish you may get bored and lose interest.
- Reset your perspective. Access how far you’ve come. Reflecting on what you’ve accomplished can help boost your motivation to keep going. Reassess your 5 year plan and make new goals for the future.
- Take mini breaks throughout the day. Go for a walk, grab a cup of coffee, or do a short workout. It’s a nice way for your brain to take a mental break from working.
- Make a gratitude list. Include all of the things you like about your job. This is helpful if you are feeling negative about your work. Chances are your gratitude list will remind you why you love your job and it will outweigh any negatives.
- Take care of yourself. Be sure you are getting enough sleep, eating nutritious food, and moving your body. It may be that your self care habits need to be changed, not your job. When we feel our best physically, we can put our best foot forward for work.
- Get back to your why. Why did you start your company? Why did you decide to get into your field of work? This will be a sure fire way to help reignite that passion and break out of burnout.
- Talk to someone about it. Whether it be a friend, family member, or therapist, talking to someone about your stresses at work will help ease your mind. Getting that support to validate your feelings is important. Even journaling about your stressful day can help you unload.
These tips will help keep your motivation fresh. Don’t worry if you do feel a little burnt out, it happens! The more you refocus on your goals and allow yourself time to rest and enjoy your personal life, the less you will experience work induced fatigue. You might feel pressured to be in work mode 24/7, but this is a sure way to get burnout. Prioritize your health and social needs outside of work. This will do wonders for your mental health.