Tips for Dealing with Burnout
I came across this article written by Forbes
called “9 Ways to Recover From Burnout and Love Your Job Again” and it made me realize that I might be exactly that… burnt out.
Sometimes we don’t even notice how hard we are working ourselves, especially in the middle of a global pandemic where our focus might be elsewhere. Toss in the fact that most of us are now working from home and aren’t allowed to see our regular friends and family. It’s not too far off to say that we are all experiencing some form of social withdrawal. The simple pleasures that we used for relaxation and release, are now out of our reach and we are all feeling its effects.
With all the hard work and dedication that comes with working or trying to find work during a pandemic, we need to take a moment and check-in to make sure we are doing okay.
With that said, here are SheCan’s three top suggestions on how to recover from being burnt out:
No. 1 – Acknowledge that you’re burnout.
First and foremost, if you are burnt out, you need to acknowledge it. Being mentally and physically drained for an extended period of time only leads to resenting your job, which is the last thing anyone needs right now. If you are starting to feel like you are exhausted, it might be time to take a second and really ask yourself how you are feeling. If you are burnt out, something needs to change.
No. 2 – Know your limits.
It is essential to set clear boundaries for ourselves when we are working in the current conditions. I find that I am constantly taking on more than I can handle because I like being busy. When I’m busy, I feel accomplished and more motivated. But once in a while, after being on go-go-go non-stop, I hit a wall and to which point I am useless for a few days until I recover both mentally and physically. Most of the time it takes getting sick before I realize I have pushed myself to an extreme that my body and mind can’t handle. And while this is something I will always struggle with, I have taken the necessary time to fully understand exactly where my limits are. A good way to go about not biting off more than you can chew is by making a list of all the tasks that 100% need to be completed within your dedicated working hours for that day. If you finish everything on that list within your time frame, that’s when it is okay to take on other responsibilities.
No. 3 – Don’t work during unwind time.
When the clock strikes “DONE for the day”, you need to be DONE FOR THE DAY. It is vital to your mental health to take time for you and your loved ones. While this is not always the case, it will do each and every one of us some good by making a lasting effort to stop working when work is over that day. If you get a call about something work related, don’t be afraid to ask them to call you during your working hours the next day or let it go to voicemail. If you have a dedicated work phone, simply shut it off or put it in another room. Relaxation is an essential part to maintaining and managing our mental and physical health.
“It’s better to burn out than to fade away.”
If I can do it, SheCan too!
Author: Carlynn Overbury, Marketing Coordinator