What is “Burnout?”
According to Psychology Today, burnout is a state of chronic stress that leads to physical and emotional exhaustion, cynicism and detachment, as well as feelings of ineffectiveness or lack of accomplishment. It is a state many of us rarely see coming. Professionals are often so passionate about their job that they start working more and more hours and put enormous amounts of pressure on themselves to excel. This continued behavior makes a burnout inevitable. However, if preventative actions are taken early and often, your health and performance benefit tremendously.
Tips to Prevent Burnout
- Change the scenery: If you have the ability to work remotely, try it out a couple days a week! Work at coffee shops, on your porch or even take a day trip. A change of scenery removes you from the environment that is fueling a burnout and positively impacts your body and creative mind.
- Expand your horizon: Spend time with people who don’t have the same job as you, start reading about topics that don’t normally interest you or volunteer for the first time. This may seem difficult at first, but learning something new and stepping out of your comfort zone mentally pays off.
- Find your natural productivity clock: If you are a morning person, wake up earlier and give your self time to drink coffee and accomplish the most important tasks of the day. If you feel more creative and productive at night, then allow yourself to sleep in and save the important tasks for the evening. Everyone works differently, so find what works for you!
- Allow yourself to just be bored: During your downtime, turn off the TV and put down your phone and completely decompress. Without your usual sources of entertainment, your brain will begin to work in new ways in an attempt to entertain you. This will leave you feeling happier, more creative and less stressed.
- Observe your habits and look for improvements: Pay attention to your daily routine and make notes of when you have good and bad days. Track these patterns and identify some things you might be able to change. It may be as simple as getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of water throughout the day and remembering to incorporate exercise.
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