Overcoming Burnout On The Job

"The really idle man gets nowhere. The perpetually busy man does not get much further." n~ Sir Heneage Ogilvie

Occasionally, while at work, we may experience a loss of motivation, but if this becomes more than occasional, we could be at risk for "burnout." Burnout refers to a depletion of our energy and resiliency resources so that continuing to do the same task becomes very difficult. It is as if you did your job just one day too long and cannot return to it.

A basic problem with burning out on the job is that it can spill over into other areas of your life and show up as depression.

Signs of burnout, in addition to a lack of energy, are increasing levels of irritation and frustration, poor attention, concentration and memory, a loss of humor, and the appearance of a cynical attitude. You also work harder but seem to get less done, begin feeling isolated from others, and lose both the joy of the job and of daily home and family life.

Burnout is most often caused by:nn* Having too many tasks, many of them self-chosen. n* Striving to meet perfectionistic and, therefore, unrealistic goals.n* Working to achieve unreasonable deadlines. n* Refusing to slow down, take a break, or ask for help.n* Having a lack of variety in daily duties.n* Bottling up emotions until you "stress out."

To avoid burnout you have to be able to recognize the early signs of it and be willing to take swift action. Often you must reassess your priorities and doing this is easier when you remember that few people at the end of life say, "I really wish that I had spent more time at work."

To control burnout in your life, evaluate your goals to assure that you are headed where you want to go. Then consider:nn* Reorganizing the job into efficient, prioritized tasks. n* Building in relaxation breaks so you can intentionally slow down and rejuvenate yourself. n* Adding variety to the daily schedule, even small changes in routine will help. n* Learning to say "No" when demands are becoming too many.n* Asking for help when you need it.n* Talking to others and sharing your emotions before they become a problem.n* Getting enough stamina building physical exercise.

Most importantly, each day do something you enjoy. Do it away from work, and do it whether you "feel" like it or not. If necessary make yourself go to a movie, visit a friend, or take a slow walk around the block. Don't use the excuse of being too tired. Remind yourself that doing something which you enjoy is the best way to recover your energy.

Every day make sure that you unwind from the job by doing something fun, and you will beat burnout. After all, the reason you are working so hard is so that you can enjoy life. Don't forget to do so.

You can take a free online burnout test at www.lessonsforliving.com/tests/