Work Burnout - Are You In Danger?

Are You in Danger of Burnout?
If you are a business owner or an employee, the holidays can be overly busy times. You feel the responsibility to your customers and clients. Added personal responsibilities for extra time needed to get gifts, attend social events can make you feel like you are burning the candle at both ends. Where is the time going to come from? This added pressure can bring you to the point of burnout.
Work burnout is a common occurrence among the best and most responsible workers in all fields. It happens most frequently if you love your job and what you do. You have high standards for yourself; perhaps you are a bit of a perfectionist or an idealist. You want to provide the best service; go over and beyond what is expected to give service to others.
Burnout can sneak up on you. In fact, it’s important to be aware of the possible symptoms. As you get busier and busier, it become almost like the syndrome of a frog in slowly increasing warm water getting boiled to death. You don’t even notice until it’s too late.
Symptoms of Burnout:
• FATIGUE:
you are working like a maniac, but never seem to get caught up. Productivity declines as you increase they time you are spending to get your projects done.
• SELF FORGETTING:
You are not taking time to do the things you once enjoyed; seeing your friends, shopping for and cooking healthy foods, reading or watching movies, etc.
• UNEXPLAINABLE MISERY
You are miserable but don’t understand why. You may be feeling tired, but unable to get relief from sleep, if you are able to sleep! Headaches and other physical symptoms, your immune system is being compromised. If you see your doctor, (s)he may misdiagnose and treat you for depression. You are NOT depressed: you are overwhelmed from work.
• EMOTIONAL REACTION:
Your frustration level drops, you become cynical and aggressive. Your values of service are being challenged, and you wonder why you ever thought this work was a good idea.
• DISENGAGED:
You don’t want to be with friends or people who you had enjoyed. You want to be by yourself. You push away people who want to help you. You feel an inner emptiness and loss of purpose.
• PHYSICAL AND MENTAL COLLAPSE:
Your body, being the receptacle of your negative emotions stops you from continuing on this path by ramping up the milder symptoms to full blown illness. You have passed the point where an easy fix is possible. You MUST stop and rebuild your life.
I sincerely hope that none of you have gotten to this point, but the fact is that burnout is a very common occurrence in today’s milieu. People are afraid if they don’t do extra, their business or job will be in jeopardy. Frightened about the economy, they put extra effort and time into every project and over emphasize the importance of small, otherwise meaningless details.

What can you do to prevent burnout?

The best way to prevent work burnout is to be proactive and preventative by doing self-care on a continuous daily basis.
“In an emergency, put on your own oxygen mask first, and then help others”.
Said by the Cabin Attendant in every one of the flights you’ve ever taken

Self care: proactive – eat good food- start with breakfast, healthy snacks
Sleep 8 hours – see my sleep hygiene suggestions
Learn to say NO – set up boundaries (see my communication program)
Take a non-coffee/ no cigarette break – Use this time as “Take a Breath break”
Drink a glass of water;
Stretch out of your seat (effect of sitting too long: sitosis)
Take a walk, or exercise (park further from your regular spot)
Treat yourself like you are a potential lover you want to impress – say nice things to yourself; make romantic and delicious dinners for yourself; light candles, set the table; listen to yourself – your heart
Keep inspirational quotes around
Turn off bad news – Put on music you enjoy
Smile, relax your face. Smiling has actually been found to be part of a feedback loop that gets your body relaxed, which in turn calms your mind!
The bottom line is: It’s up to you to take care of yourself. You can’t take care of anyone else if you don’t take care of your own needs first. So, to run an effective business, remember to take care of the person who needs it the most: You!