You’ve taken all the steps society tells you to take to be successful; you went to a great University and now have your “dream job”. The pay is ok, and your vacation time is near, but you are no longer motivated and are always tired. You, my friend, are experiencing what is known as burnout.
If we were to look at what burnout means in layman’s terms, it’s pretty much taking on more than you can physically manage or being overwhelmed with too much work until your body gives out. I know some things are easier said than done, but if you are looking to NOT experience burnout, here are a few things you can do.
5 Tips for Beating Burnout in 2022
- Just Say NO: In the corporate world, there are certain ways you can skim around things without being direct, (let’s face it, corporate people are always passive-aggressive). You can say things like, I don’t have the bandwidth to do that now, OR I’m oversubscribed with projects right now. If you are not too keen on corporate lingo, just say no ..literally (In a diplomatic and respectful way)! It doesn’t get any easier than that. This can take some practice and you might start with a soft, low, and timid no but that’s ok because you will become more firm in your response as you go along.
- Set Boundaries: This has become my favorite word and also a game-changer as I became an adult. Boundaries are a great way to create distance or draw a line between you and just about everyone, without being rude. At this stage in my life, working on weekends is a BIG NO! I did it when I was in my late teens to early 20s and decided to no longer entertain this. Decide on things that are non-negotiable that you can create to protect your mental and physical peace. You might look into something like, not accepting any form of communication from people at work after a specific time or leaving work the minute it ends. You get to decide.
- Get Moving: I joined a Gym in 2020 and I’ve never been happier! I remember a time, when I was so stressed at work I felt like I would literally punch somebody out! We all have that one coworker or even boss that truly aggravates our spirit and really pushes us to the limit. Of course, I would never punch a person, but I was also so angry and overwhelmed, and going to the gym definitely took the edge off. I didn’t only start to look good (better), I was feeling better too.
- Take a Vacation: This should have been #1 right? Sometimes a change of scenery is what you need to refresh, renew and recharge! Take some of the money you are making and treat yourself to some time off. If the budget doesn’t allow it, you can have a staycation in your city OR even your home. Sleep in a little later, and enjoy a meal at a Restaurant. Take a breather and take a load off.
- Do a Job Analysis: Sometimes, being in jobs that we have no interest in can cause us stress. If you are in a job that you are not excited about or motivated to carry out the functions, chances are, you are in the wrong field. Do not quit unless you have money saved or a support system, but start planning an exit strategy. Search for jobs in industries you are actually interested in on sites like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Caribbeanjobs.com.
Burnout can often feel insurmountable. But the sense of being overwhelmed is a signal, not a long-term sentence. By understanding the symptoms and causes and implementing these five strategies, you can recover and build a road map for prevention.
Comment below if you’ve experienced burnout and how you’ve handled it.
#5 Tips for Beating Burnout in 2022
#5 Tips for Beating Burnout in 2022
#5 Tips for Beating Burnout in 2022
#5 Tips for Beating Burnout in 2022
#5 Tips for Beating Burnout in 2022
#5 Tips for Beating Burnout in 2022
