In our daily lives, we all want to do it all—give our best to our jobs, provide and care for our families, and make an impact in the community. We want to balance it all.
Where does it leave time for ourselves? Or is that something you have completely forgotten about?
“Put your own oxygen mask first before helping others around you.”
Burnout is real, but do you know there are so many signs before burnout happens that tell you to course correct?
Stress --> Languish -- > Burnout --> impact --> Depression
Signs of burnout that are hard to miss –
Feeling drained all the time
Developing a pessimistic and cynical attitude towards your responsibilities at home and work
Doubting yourself and feeling less competent. Decreased productivity and lower efficiency.
Insomnia or difficulty sleeping, frequent headaches or muscle pain, changes in appetite or weight.
Withdrawing from social interactions at or outside work, feeling isolated or unsupported.
Engaging in self-critical or pessimistic thoughts about work performance or personal achievements.
Putting off tasks or responsibilities, difficulty starting or completing assignments.
Are you experiencing more than three of the listed items above? No, you do not need to leave your job or completely shut down your social life. You need to change your mindset, start thinking differently, and address burnout by changing your behavior.
Burnout has so much to do with “Energy.” When coaching people on burnout, below is what I have found helpful:
Minimize the activities that drain your energy. Delegate wherever needed. Automate wherever applicable Ask Yourself: What are the activities that are draining my energy? To whom can I delegate these activities, and who will enjoy doing this work?
Spend more time on activities that replenish your energy. Ask Yourself: What are the activities that replenish my energy? How and where can I set boundaries to do more of what I enjoy? This is not limited to work.
If you need to know what activities drain vs. replenish your energy, list activities at the end of the day and categorize them as draining vs. replenishing. Practice it for at least two weeks. Ask Yourself: How can I ensure that in a given day, my replenished energy > drained energy?
Try to address the root cause rather than the symptom Ask Yourself: What is making me stressed and why? What are the different ways that I can address the stressor?
This formula applies to “everything” in life, not only at work. Try addressing burnout by changing your behavior for at least a month and see the positive changes in your life!
Comments