5 Ways to Beating Burnout at Work
It’s June; we are halfway through the year and summer is in the air. For many professionals, it’s that time of year where the last place they want to be is work. They would rather be at the shore, outside with friends and family, attending neighborhood barbecues, or really anywhere but the office. It’s that time of year where feelings of burnout are constant.
First things first, how do you recognize this feeling? Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and often physical exhaustion brought on by prolonged or repeated stress. It can appear in many stressful occurrences throughout life, but is most often brought on by problems at work.
It’s been a tough few years, in more ways than one, so you aren’t the only one experiencing these feelings. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to change careers or companies, it might just be as simple as taking a break or identifying the stressors in your life and problem solving.
If you’re feeling this way, consider these tips:
1. Take a step back
First take a deep breath. When we get emotional, it can be hard to see past our feelings. Before you take any action, it will help to pinpoint what it is exactly that is making you feel burnout.
Pay close attention to timing. When you’re feeling burnout, was it after a team meeting? Was it while working on a specific project? Is it because of the long hours you’re working? Do you feel burnout after speaking with a particular coworker?
Try to understand just what it is that’s the problem. That’s the first step.
2. Don’t be afraid to speak up
One of the best ways to get help is just to ask for it. Now that you know what’s affecting you so greatly, set up a conversation with your boss or someone from HR. Together you can create a plan of how to move forward.
3. Take a break
You have PTO for a reason, so take it! Many professionals say they don’t like to take days off because it’s chaos when they return to work – a feeling that is almost worse than not taking a break at all.
That being said, take the time you need. One of the only ways to properly recover is to remove yourself from your work environment. Get away from it all and take a vacation. You might even just enjoy being at home for a few days cleaning out the closets and running errands you haven’t had time for.
When you come back, you’ll find yourself refreshed and feeling like yourself again. Hopefully you’ll have gained some energy and will feel charged up enough to tackle those problems that were draining you before.
4. Set boundaries
Now that you’re feeling better and less burnout, it’s time to talk about prevention. It’s easy to fall into a routine and get stuck back in that same rut. But if you take that familiar route, those feelings of stress and overwhelm are going to move right back in.
Set limits for yourself. If you know just how much of a workload you can handle, don’t take on anymore than that. Another good idea is to keep your workspace and schedule organized. Need some help in this department? We’ve got you covered! Check out this article about staying organized in the workplace.
5. Don’t bring work home with you
This is one of the greatest challenges of all – especially if you work from home. It can so tempting to turn on your computer for “just a few minutes” at night. In fact, you might think you’re helping yourself by alleviating some tasks you’d have to do during the workday. If that’s the case, go back to Step 4 and rethink your workload.
If you are one of the business professionals working from home and just can’t resist the temptation, consider changing up your work environment. Coworking spaces like CommonGrounds Workplace are a great solution for remote workers. They provide a workspace with all the comforts of home and unique amenities to make your day a bit brighter.
