Every year seems to fly by faster than the one before. Once again, I can’t believe we are into the last quarter of 2022, except for the tell tale sign typical of this time of the year – fatigue. So how can we avoid burnout in this critical time of the year when there is still so much to do?
Although I am a firm believer that hard work breeds success, success is also about balance. So while I spend most of my time coaching clients to take action and get things done, every now and then, we need the pendulum to swing the other way to avoid burnout.
Take a break
Yes, it’s ok to go home after a day’s work and switch off. Watch your children’s sporting activities, lie on the couch on the weekend, take holidays, put your out of office message on and leave your laptop at work. Plan your next break so you know there is light at the end of the tunnel. Whether it’s a braai with friends and family, a golf game, a weekend away or a family holiday in December. Work hard with the knowledge that you will get a proper break from it all in the near future. And then take the break!
Tomorrow is another day
We’ve been conditioned to believe that procrastination is the root of all evil. And it is. But you must not confuse procrastination with prioritising and planning to do something the next day. We are only human, and there are only 24 hours in a day. Sometimes we bite off more than we can chew, our goals are too ambitious, we overpromise, we are under resourced and over stretched.
There comes a time when you need to draw a line in the sand and call it a day. Because tomorrow is another day, and another opportunity to get things done. When you try and squeeze too much out of a day, you don’t get enough rest, your mind never takes a break and you will actually be less productive. Do it properly tomorrow, rather than doing a half-baked job today just so you can tick it off your list.
No is also an answer
This is sometimes the hardest thing to say. You want to please everyone, you believe your clients will leave you, you will lose your job and your friends won’t like you. Saying yes just to please when you mean no, is what causes burnout.
When is it ok to say no? When the demands are unreasonable, when it’s not possible, when the sacrifice is not worth it, when your family will be compromised, when it clashes with your values, when you simply don’t have time, or when there is an alternative. The world won’t end, and no one will die. By respecting yourself, others will start to respect your boundaries too. It’s a fine line between being reliable and being taken advantage of.
As we start the downhill slippery slope towards the end of the year, be sure to take care of yourself as much as you take care of your business. If you need help prioritising what’s important in order to avoid burnout, contact me for a chat.
Have a great weekend.
