10 Ways To Avoid Burnout At Work
10 Ways To Avoid Burnout At Work. No matter how much we love our jobs, at some point many of us will experience work-related stress that leaves us struggling to cope. Burnout isn’t just a reaction to a bad job. You can love your job and still experience it. It’s often how we have to do our work that triggers burnout. The following tips will help you avoid going through a burnout and strive in your career.
1. Know Your Breaking Point
Most busy people will tell you it’s impossible to unplug, so burnout is almost inevitable. However, it’s important to know when you’re close to or at a burnout stage. Something as simple as taking a day off, going for a bike ride, or having a fun night out with friends can help to take the edge off.
2. Schedule Free Time
Schedule free time on your calendar, just like you would schedule a meeting, and stick to it. It’s crucial to take the time you need for yourself, even if it’s just 30 minutes a day. You’ll get back to work feeling recharged and inspired, and chances are, you’ll accomplish a lot more than you would if you worked straight through the day.
3. Meditate Daily
Even if it’s just for 10 minutes, spending the time (especially in the early afternoon) to just breathe has been extraordinarily powerful for me. It keeps me fresh and sharp, and taking self-care seriously sets a great example for the rest of the team.
4. Work Less
This does not mean being less productive or bunking work. There are ways to work more efficiently so that you can work less but still get the same amount done. Batching your emails, automating repetitive tasks, and delegating can all help.
5. Sleep
Insomnia is one of the symptoms of burnout, and when you don’t sleep, your brain doesn’t function at its prime. Getting enough sleep is also crucial to your health and happiness. Science has proven that adults need 7-9 hours of sleep nightly to function optimally.
6. Exercise
Exercise is crucial to your mental and physical health. The satisfaction of knowing you’re taking care of yourself, and the improved energy you’ll get from getting up and moving rather than sitting stationary at a desk all day, will help prevent that physical and emotional exhaustion that causes burnout.
7. Laugh
Don’t worry; be happy! It’s been proven that laughing relieves stress and has many positive short-term and long-term effects. Actually, it’s hard to be cynical and angry when you’re laughing so hard your sides hurt. So interact more with the funny guy at the office. Plan a catch-up date with your funniest friend. Go see a comedy. Literally laugh the stress away!
8. Socialize
Spending time with people outside of work gives you some much-needed emotional fulfillment. Only socializing at work, and making work your entire life, will leave you burned out and emotionally detached from those people you would normally hang out with on your days off.
9. Find a Hobby
The best way to avoid burnout is to find a hobby you can deeply immerse yourself in for a few hours a week. Hobbies such as basketball, soccer, and climbing can provide a therapeutic release, and you can come to work recharged and ready to go every day!
10. Take a Vacation
Vacations with loved ones will help you avoid burnout. It’s important to put on an out-of-office message, too, and not respond to emails. Another benefit of taking a vacation is you set a good example for hard-working employees.
