Top 10 Ways to Prevent Burnout
When you meet with a certain level of success in your business or career, sooner or later, working long hours without taking time to recharge will likely lead to burnout.
Burnout can leave you feeling tired and resentful. It's essential to recognize the signs early to pace yourself and be effective at your job.
Successful people know how hard it is to keep up their self-care, especially when they're riding high on success, so they form habits that help them stay ahead of things. Budgeting time to do the things you love helps keep you fresh.
Here are ten tips to help you prevent burnout:
Be on the lookout for warning signs. People feel the effects of burnout in different ways. Perhaps you're feeling weary and exhausted without the energy necessary to perform. Or maybe you feel sad or stressed out most of the time.
Some people experience blurred-vision or difficulty finding words or focusing on anything in front of them (called "tunnel vision").
Or you might worry about work all the time, even when you aren't working. Take a little time to look at what might be causing your burnout feelings. Once you've found the root cause of your burnout, it's easier to handle it.
2. Take regular breaks. Anywhere from 10-20 minutes can make all the difference between staying in your zone and falling asleep or drooping badly at your desk. When you feel burnout creeping up, make sure you take a break for your health and well-being.
Even if you're only able to wind down for five minutes, sit somewhere quiet to just breathe or maybe think over a plan to reboot.
3. Follow a good sleep pattern. Studies show that people who get less than seven hours of sleep each night are more likely to burn out. If you find yourself falling asleep at your desk or on the subway or being massively tired, try catching up on some zzz's during weekends.
4. Make regular exercise an essential part of your life. Regular exercise reduces stress and increases energy. If you aren't a naturally athletic person, you might be surprised to find that exercise isn't an inconvenient chore.
There are many ways to have fun while making your body feel better! If you can't get out of the office, try some low-impact exercises like pushups or stretches while you're at your desk.
5. Set some juicy goals. When you know you have something to work toward that excites you, it's easier to get out of bed in the morning. With dreams, you give yourself a reason to go on, a direction for your energy.
6. Try outsourcing. Switch up your workload every once in a while, to take some pressure off yourself. Delegate to coworkers or hire an intern. If you pay someone else to do part of your job, you'll free up time for yourself—and it will help you think more clearly and creatively.
7. Identify the source of your burnout and fix it. You'll have a more challenging time beating burnout if you don't know what's causing it. Take some time to reflect - why do you think you feel tired, stressed, or resentful?
Put some things in writing. Write down the things that you're doing that are causing this feeling and start brainstorming about doing something different.
8. Go on a vacation. Remember: Fun doesn't have to be expensive. Plan a trip somewhere fun that you can go for a few days. Go for some fresh air, take some time out of your schedule, and return feeling refreshed.
9. Be consistent with your self-care. You can't expect to get in touch with your feelings and refresh yourself if you don't take enough time for yourself.
Even a regular 20-minute break can make all the difference in the world when you're feeling stressed and overworked.
10. Establish firm boundaries. Don't let your clients or colleagues push you to work late without saying something first. There's a thin line between being hard-working and being a workaholic.
Remember: successful people don't just show up for work and do their best. They ensure that they have time to do things that are important to them. They make a healthy, balanced life outside of work.
Plan smart breaks to stay on top of things and be more effective at work. You’ll be glad you did!
If you are a motivated business owner who wants to experience the power of coaching (for free), book a call with me and let me help you to get clearer and more unstoppable as a business person. You can sign up here: https://calendly.com/coachjoemitchell/45min
Joe Mitchell, Esquire is a High-Performance Coach and EFT (Tapping) Practitioner, who has logged over 35 years of in-depth study of personal and spiritual development. In his studies, he has done hundreds of self-development courses, spiritual retreats, and health-related workshops. Coach Joe is a certified yoga teacher, meditation teacher, NLP Practitioner, and a graduate of four coaching academies. Two years after he graduated from Harvard Law School, he became a monk for five years. In 2016, after over 20 years as a solo criminal and personal injury attorney, he decided to turn his heart's passion into a career as a Success Coach, Motivational Speaker, and Trainer. For information on Coach Joe’s programs, high-performance videos and to apply for a Free Clear and Unstoppable Strategy Session click the following link http://www.activateyourgreatness.com/free-session