If you’re reading this and recognizing yourself in the descriptions of burnout, don’t worry that it’s too late. Recovery is possible no matter how overwhelmed you’ve become.Help your employees adjust their workloads as needed and give them time and space to recover.
If you’re an employee, make sure to care for your physical health and regain your sense of control. Talk to human resources and to your manager. Take breaks when you need to take them. Set firm boundaries and don’t agree to projects you’re not ready to take on.
Reexamine your goals and engage in introspection.
In some cases, it might be your personal or family life you most need to change. Allow for recovery One of the most insidious aspects of burnout is the sense of hopelessness it can cause. It’s not uncommon for people or companies to go into “survival mode” and deem change impossible.
Don’t let this be you! Things can and will get better. The first and most important step is to open your doors and start talking to each other.
How do you deal with emotional burnout?
When burnout happens, it is often accompanied by a fear that “this is the new me.” In any situation that we feel compromised emotionally and physically, it can feel dangerously permanent. Try some of these ideas for managing burnout with finesse.
Admit it:
So maybe you don’t feel compelled to announce your feelings of burnout to your competitors at work. At least acknowledge it to yourself and to trusted loved ones. There is power in acknowledging problems aloud.It becomes less of a burden when you’re not carrying the knowledge of your struggle on your own.
Reassess what’s important:
In order to stay connected to the real you, challenge yourself to look at your life with complete honesty. Do you feel good about the direction of your life? Are you abiding by your values at work and at home?
Create balance:
Life balance doesn’t just create itself. We have to work for it. How many hours do you spend at work per day? Do you make time for self-care, time with friends and family? Creativity? Health?
It may be that you’re treating yourself and your needs like an “option” instead of a priority. Make time for the rest of your life that happens outside of work.
Keep your ego in check:
If you hesitate to take time for self-care because you don’t want to lose status, power or reputation at work, it may be time to examine your ego. It is normal and healthy to care about your responsibilities.
If your entire identity is wrapped up in your corporate role, that is a major red flag. Ask yourself, why has it become so important for me to be this powerful? What does it mean to me personally if I lose my status in this role? Who am I outside of my work role?
Delegate, prioritize and say no when needed:
You cannot be the fixer of all things. Delegate tasks to co-workers where you can. Allowing others to take responsibility for aspects of the business creates a team energy that can only help everyone in the long run.
If you can’t say no to a new project, project your start date out a few weeks or even months, if possible.