Simple ways to avoid burnout
In our last post, we talked about Burnout, the causes of burnout, and signs that show that you may be facing burnout. Life can come at us very fast sometimes. Everything can be going great at work, you may be hitting all the targets that have been set before you, meeting deadlines, and achieving your goals but it gets to a point where everything just seems to be slow or tiring.
You just get tired of the workload. Exhaustion, mental strain, and physical stress get the better of you. This happens to every one of us, and that’s what burnout looks like.
Burnout is a state of fatigue or frustration brought about by devotion to a cause, way of life, or relationship that failed to produce the expected reward – Herbert J. Freudenberger.
Burnout can also be referred to as a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by long-term involvement in emotionally demanding situations.” – Ayala Pines and Elliot Aronson.
In this article, we look at simple ways to avoid burnout.
How to avoid burnout
A lot of persons try as much to focus on short-term strategies when trying to overcome burnout. For example, some people take vacations to rest themselves and their minds, but these vacations just relieve them temporarily. It doesn’t change anything in the long run. Here are some specific strategies for overcoming burnout in the long run:
Work with Purpose
The first step to avoiding burnout is to find purpose in whatever you are doing. A lot of people just work for paychecks and do not find meaning in their work. You have to question yourself deeply. How does your work affect society? It might seem small to you but it does make society better. It’s the little things that make life good for others.
If you feel that you are not adding anything to the life of others in your current job role or career, you can find time to set up a career strategy. You can create a plan to develop a better career for yourself. You can try and find something better for you. It’s easy to avoid burnout when you have true meaning or find purpose in what you are doing.
Sleep Regularly
Lack of sleep, especially a good amount of sleep is one reason people face burnout. Yes, you have heard those motivational speakers telling you not to sleep, telling you to keep grinding. But at some point, if you keep grinding without getting ample rest, you might run into deep mental and emotional stress that can affect your physical health.
Sleeping is good. Insomnia is one of the symptoms of burnout and this due to a lack of good sleep. According to various sources, lack of sleep can cause great damage in the long run. It can cause you to lack the right judgment. it can aid the development of chronic and terminal diseases like cancer, diabetes, hypertension, depression, and more.
Medically, getting enough sleep is crucial to your overall health. Scientifically, you should have at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep every day. Do not let your work slip into your sleep hours.
Take control
You can start with performing a job analysis on your current role. You must ensure that you are clear about what you are doing and that you don’t have an excessive workload. If you need to, set a meeting with your manager, stating clearly what your role in the organization is and the activities you are meant to perform. This will help you in delegating tasks and cutting off those that are not essential to you.
To avoid burnout you must ensure that you create more autonomy in your work. You will also have more control when you prioritize tasks and manage your time effectively.
Exercise Regularly
A good amount of daily exercise can go a long way in helping you avoid burnout. Regular exercise is pivotal to mental and physical health. If you need to, create a fitness challenge work with your colleagues. Find out different times you and your colleagues can exercise together at work.
You can also wake up early to do one or two exercises. Exercise does not only energize your body it also enhances your sleep, it enables you to have a good sleep. There is that fulfillment you get from taking care of your self and this will help you avoid burnout. Don’t just sit in front of your computer all day without moving your body. Take care of your body.
Hangout with friends regularly
Spending time with friends, family, and other people can go a long way in helping you avoid burnout. By socializing I don’t mean spending time with your colleagues at the office, I mean making out time for friends and family. You must ensure that your work is not your entire life. You should find life outside work. For example, you can plan movie nights with friends or Saturday hangouts, it could even be Sunday afternoon brunch. The goal is to find ample time to hang out with friends outside work.
With that said, I have come to the end of this post, if you enjoyed it, leave a comment below.
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