MORE TIPS TO PREVENT BURNOUT
Each month I have been sharing more tips to prevent burnout. These are also some of the steps in the RECHARGE to Prevent or Overcome Burnout series. This month I will focus on the final three tips listed below.
1. Recognize the symptoms
2. Get rest
3. Manage your energy
4. Connect with friends outside of work
5. Have a hobby you enjoy at least once a week
6. Get active, move your body (e.g. walking, yoga, sports)
7. Schedule fun activities regularly in your calendar
8. Renew your mind and body with nurturing activities
9. Invest in your personal growth
10. Consider new perspectives, opportunities, and attitudes
Is there a silver lining to burning out? If there is, it may be that you finally learn to recognize your limits. This knowledge can help you focus on what really matters in your life, and create a path forward that respects healthy limits and prioritizes your values, goals, enjoyment, recreation, self-care, and relationships.
Have you ever really taken time to focus on self-care? Or are you always focused on caring for others, your to-do list, and work tasks? I encourage you this month to add one nurturing activity to your routine. Consider scheduling a massage, or having a weekly restorative bubble bath or daily skincare routine. (Did you know that at your local pharmacy or health food store you can find inexpensive and luxurious products like Epsom salts, shea butter, almond oil, rose water, and essential oils - you can even make your own homemade body scrubs!) Or maybe nurturing activities for you could be to take a walk, read a book, light a scented candle, go for a scenic drive you have been meaning to take, have a nap, write in a journal, meditate, try restorative yoga, go to be earlier for one week, or simply start your morning with 10 minutes of sitting quietly with a hot drink. Just chose one self-care activity, and do it!
For some individuals, experiencing burning out or approaching burnout can lead them to take inventory of their life - and their priorities. Life transitions, marriage, children, career, and other circumstances may have pulled you in different directions, and you haven't had the time to sit down and revisit your priorities and goals - and maybe these have changed - a lot! For some, this can mean rethinking career interests and stepping into new areas, or narrowing focus, or specializing in a particular area of interest or an entirely new field, or turning a hobby into a vocation. I love asking coaching clients, "what did you love to do when you were 12 years old?". What are your priorities and goals at this point in your life?
Taking a sabbatical, extended vacation time, leave of absence, or getting some form of break and distance from work can help you gain greater perspective and objectivity, and can give you the opportunity and ability to listen to what your mind, body, and heart are really needing and wanting. Meeting new people, exploring new places, and learning about different cultures can inject creative ideas and introduce opportunities that had never been apparent to you. Your body might tell you how much it needed sleep, or exercise, or healthier food; and your mind and heart might thank you for finally remembering to have fun, lighten up, and laugh! In some cases, individuals never take this break - until they burn out. I encourage you to think about ways to get a break, and more perspective, before symptoms get severe. If you are already burned out, this experience can be a catalyst that eventually allows you to get necessary rest, and gain new perspectives and attitudes that can bring new possibilities and opportunities.
Remember to get professional help if you are struggling. There is support available, and there are many options! My one-phrase book is this: You Have More Options Than You Realize. Sometimes we need help to get perspective, and to help us remember or discover what matters most. You are not alone. Reach out to friends, family, or for professional help. There is hope after burnout - and the opportunity for renewal, growth, and greater enjoyment in life. -Marcia
