Burnout Prevention
Today, being a small business owner or a corporate executive has far bigger challenges than any of our predecessors experienced before us. It is expected of us to multitask, be multiskilled, analytical, adaptive and do all of this in record time while living a balanced life. Newton proved it, what goes up must come down. Something will give. The trick is to see it coming and arm yourself with a maintenance tool kit that helps you navigate through or even prevent burnout. Here are 5 tools for burnout prevention.
Balance is for Birds
The biggest myth to overcome is the utopian drive towards a balanced life. You very quickly realize that balance is for birds and end up constantly beating yourself up for not levitating to balance zen status.
Forget it, accept that deadlines ebb and flow and that you need to go with that flow. Accept the busy times, work effectively through them and know that this too shall pass and as soon as it does, continue in the pursuit of balance.
Overachievement is Overrated
You’ve always lived by the law of “how we do one thing is how we do everything” but perfection sometimes comes at a cost. Consider the hours of lost productivity while you were fixating on some inferior imperfection when you could be focusing your energy on something that would propel your business in the right direction.
Join the recovering perfectionist club and know that letting it slide is “acceptable”.
You Cannot Pour from an Empty Cup
Looking after you is as important as looking after your machines and equipment. If you go down, so does your business or your team. Make time for what makes your soul happy. Even if you have to schedule it and force yourself to do it, guilt-free. Know your own internal clock and the burnout warning signs, listen and act. Prevention really is better than cure, keep your cup full so you can help fill up your teams.
Give Back
Whenever you feel the symptoms of burnout approaching, open your hand and heart and pay it forward. Leaning in or assisting someone else with a far greater need than yours has a way of giving life perspective – and it energizes you.
Nothing helps you feel better about yourself than when you help someone else.
Be your own BFF
Don’t be so hard on yourself. Give yourself a break. Do this in front of the mirror every morning. Think of what you would say to your best friend if they were you. Tell yourself why you are great. In times of heightened stress, take it one step further and send yourself a fan mail.
