How to Combat Burnout in Your Career
Even those of us who love our careers can start to feel less motivated. In fact, recent studies show women are suffering burnout before they even turn 30.
Being tired earlier on in the day, a more negative attitude, and generally feeling drained are all tell-tale signs. It’s an awful feeling, but your reaction needn’t be too drastic; you don’t have to start looking for another job, but you should take it seriously. Your attitude in the workplace affects not only your productivity but also those around you.
Use Your Free Time Wisely
Effectively balancing both your personal and professional life is perhaps the most important thing you can do. Be careful that you don’t start to neglect the people that are important to you and ensure you make the most of any time you have off work, whether this means catching up with friends or a having a solo Netflix marathon in your pajamas. If you have any sick days or holidays left, take advantage of them. If you’re self-employed, consider taking on a little less work than you usually do. If you have the time, it’s also worth considering having a change of scene. Whether it’s an exotic holiday or a short breakaway on a long weekend, some time away from home could give you the boost you need to get back to work motivated on a Monday morning.
Set Yourself Realistic Goals
Aiming for the skies is admirable and we certainly aren’t saying you shouldn’t be ambitious, but it’s more about how you structure your objectives. When you focus on a big target for the future, it can be difficult to stay motivated as the finish line always seems so far away. Feeling like your day didn’t amount to anything is a common cause of burnout. Instead, try breaking up what you need to do in smaller increments. This way, you’ll still be working towards a meaningful goal, but you’ll be masking it with smaller, more attainable, targets.
Don’t Try to Do Everything Yourself
Some of the most influential people in business got where they are by identifying a problem and saying, “This is how it should be done.” Once you’ve identified that target, though, it’s sometimes better to delegate power to those around you. Not only will this free up some of the burdens you have, your colleagues or employees will also be glad to have some extra responsibility. If you’re in charge of a team, there’s a lot of pressure on you to get the best out of everyone. Consider restructuring your office so you have smaller teams working on certain goals, rather than spending all night planning a schedule for everyone to follow. If necessary, consider hiring or contracting extra staff for a project.
