To avoid burnout, you need to avoid stress.
Burnout is usually manifested by a state of absolute exhaustion, so much so that you don’t even have any passion left in what you are doing. You are just going through the motions.
Burnout is unbelievably common and it can hit people from all walks of life. The key is keeping any stress under control, so you can stay far away from burnout altogether.
Working in your own business whilst also juggling family and other commitments, can be full on. Below are three strategies you can personally implement, to reduce the risk of stress and burnout in your life.
1. Schedule Downtime
Schedule time in your week for you! Think about what it is that you most enjoy doing or what relaxes you and allows you to re-focus and do it. It might be reading a book, sleeping in, watching Netflix, taking a bath, spending time with a good friend.
Life can get so busy with so many commitments. Some of which are work commitments but many that are also enjoyable social commitments with family and friends. Just because you enjoy something, doesn’t mean that it can’t still burn you out if you’re not careful.
Make a commitment every week, to never overcommit yourself to the point that you’re left with no downtime. If you have to say ‘no’ to some things, this is okay, because downtime is also super important for your mental state and stress levels.
Scheduling in downtime will help you to avoid burnout. Don’t just do it if you find yourself with some spare time at the end of the week, make it a priority.
2. Be Disciplined with your Work Hours
In this day in age where expectations are constantly being lifted, most people would probably agree that there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done.
Even if you have a big project you are working on, or deadlines you need to meet, and you think that working that little bit extra will enable you to get it done and consequently reduce your anxiety levels, working extra hours generally won’t actually make you feel any less stressed.
Being disciplined with your work hours can be a lot more difficult if you work for yourself and/or you work from home too. This requires you to be even more self-disciplined. Make rules for yourself on what time you are going to start work, take breaks and finish work. Turn off email notifications on your phone once you have finished work to avoid anything from pulling you back in.
Being disciplined with your work hours will greatly assist you to avoid burnout.
3. Stay in Control with a To-Do List
Most people experience stress or burnt out because it feels like they have so much happening and so much to do, that they don’t even know where to start. This can be a very overwhelming feeling.
Using a to-do list to stay in control will do wonders with helping you to avoid burnout as you will always know where things are at. Whenever something new comes up, simply just add it to your to-do list.
Having a to-do list doesn’t mean that you’re always on top of things and up to date, it is just one way that you can stay in control so you always know where to start.
It’s important to recognise the signs of stress early so you can take control, avoid stress and stop yourself from getting to the point of burnout. Implementing these strategies will keep you on track.
We Are Emersyn uses an inclusive definition “female” and “women” and we welcome trans people, women, genderqueer women, and non-binary people who identify, have identified, or have been identified as female, women, or non-binary.