Burnout significantly reduces your ability to perform at your best.
When you’re burnt out, your productivity, creativity, and efficiency all suffer. When you arrive back to work after your Christmas break, there is always so much pressure on you and a lot of catching up to do in January. Now you’ve made it through January, this tends to be when people experience low motivation and burnout makes an appearance…
Here are some of our most important points to help you to avoid burnout:
- Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries between work and personal life. Define specific work hours and stick to them as much as possible. Avoid checking work emails or taking calls during personal time, and communicate your boundaries to your colleagues. – This can become increasingly difficult, especially if you are working from home.
- Manage Time Effectively: Prioritise tasks and manage your time efficiently to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Break larger projects into smaller, manageable tasks, and schedule regular breaks throughout the day to rest and recharge. It may be beneficial to use time blocking for your day and the use of written lists so you can tick things off once you have accomplished them.
- Take Regular Breaks: Schedule regular breaks during the workday to prevent mental and physical fatigue. Step away from your desk, go for a short walk to get some fresh air and vitamin D or engage in activities that help you unwind and refocus.
- Set Realistic Goals: Avoid overcommitting yourself by setting realistic goals and expectations for your workload. Learn to say no to additional tasks or projects when necessary, remember you can’t do everything!
- Seek Support: Reach out to friends, family members, or trusted colleagues for support when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It may feel like a simple point but just by talking about your feelings and experiences can help provide perspective and help alleviate stress.
- Engage in Enjoyable Activities: Make time for hobbies, interests, and activities that bring you joy and fulfilment outside of work.
- Use your annual leave: Again this may seem like such a simple point but your annual leave is there to be used. When you’re on annual leave this is your time, if you can, try to avoid picking up the phone and checking your work emails.
- Seek Professional Help: If you’re struggling to cope with burnout on your own, don’t hesitate to seek support from a mental health professional. Therapy or counselling can provide valuable tools and strategies for managing stress and preventing burnout.
Avoiding burnout is essential for both personal well-being and professional success. It’s about ensuring you can sustainably pursue your career goals while also maintaining a fulfilling and balanced life outside of work!