In an era of near-constant technological advancement and the sensation of being more connected to others than ever before, it should come as no surprise that many individuals — regardless of their background, age, or the generational parameters they fall within — feel the pressure to be “always on.” Whether in social situations or as it relates to their professional careers, there is a perceived necessity for one to always put their best foot forward.
As a result, many individuals find themselves going above and beyond to meet such expectations, all the while sacrificing their own peace of mind and personal time to recover from the events of their day or week. More often than not, this pressure is felt the most in the workplace, where, thanks to a combination of internal competition and the widespread adoption of a “keep hustling” mindset, a dog-eat-dog culture is all too easy to form.
However, it is important to note that all hope is not lost, and that we are not all doomed to become constantly moving gears in the so-called “corporate machine.” Instead, avoiding falling into this mindset — and, eventually, collapsing under the pressure of impending burnout — while maintaining a can-do attitude during working hours is entirely possible. To discover precisely how to do so, be sure to continue reading Jaclyn Yared of Grand Rapids’ perspective and tips below.
Learn when to say no (or delegate)
When one experiences the pressure to outperform their peers, they often feel the need to take on more tasks than they can necessarily handle. As a result, workdays feel more hectic, small details are more prone to fall through the cracks, and many employees end up sacrificing their much-needed down time to bring their work home with them.
To avoid falling into this vicious cycle, it is imperative you draw a hard line between your professional and personal lives and only accept as much additional work as you can handle at a time — even if that means you have to flat-out say, “No,” from time to time.
Although adapting your habits in such a way may initially make you feel as though you’re not contributing to the team or gaining your boss’ respect, you will find that, once you have enough time to dedicate to the actual duties of your job, you will perform much more positively than you would have if you were overwhelmed.
When one hears the term “self-care,” they may feel the urge to roll their eyes, as it has been greatly misconstrued to mean treating oneself to a bubble bath or splurging on one or more big ticket items upon the conclusion of a difficult week. However, self-care tactics traditionally fall more in line with self-preservation tactics such as developing positive stress management habits, executing methods of anxiety reduction, and carving out time for genuine relaxation.
Evidently, self-care is not as straight-forward and contrived as our culture has made it out to be. Instead, it requires levels of intentionality and repetition, as you are quite literally breaking old, negative habits in favor of rebuilding more positive and regenerative habits.
Speak to someone about how you feel
Whether you choose to confide in a co-worker or your supervisor, it is imperative you shed light on how you feel about your workload, office culture, or any other factor that frequently contributes to your burnout. More often than not, when one employee is feeling the pressures of their workplace, many feel the same way. Addressing such concerns openly and candidly can serve as a catalyst for change, especially if doing so motivates others to step forward and voice their thoughts as well.
In the grand scheme of things, burnout is nothing new. However, with the advent of advanced technologies and a more interconnected culture, the sensation feels more pervasive than ever before. To glean further insight into how to avoid burnout, as well as other related topics, be sure to visit Jaclyn Yared of Grand Rapids’ website.