 Burnout is real.
I'm not an expert on the topic but I've experienced enough to know what to look for and how to avoid it. First off, it's important to make the difference between burnout, which typically happens when you're working too much, not getting good sleep, overly stressed, giving your all in too many areas at once, have lost sight of your overall purpose/motivation, etc., and boredom, which happens when you're not being challenged, have too much idle time, disengaged or uninterested, and so on. The problem is not always the problem. For example, instead of changing your job, which you think is stressful, you may just need to get disciplined with a sleep routine, so you can have more energy and focus. Or instead of eliminating a hobby altogether, you just need to keep it to once a week, so you have more face to face time with loved ones. Here are a few activities that have helped me stay balanced in my faith, family, and career (that might be helpful for you too)...  Work is a place where we give and we get.
Some days, it feels like we're giving far more than we're getting. Where things go quickly wrong is when expectations are not clear. If employers don't communicate what they expect of their employees (i.e. what they need), how will they know? And vice versa. If employees are not expressing what they really need in order to be fulfilled and productive, the employers have no way of knowing. What employers deceive themselves into thinking they need from their employees is someone who sits at a desk or moves around in a building (aka at work) for 8 to 10 hours a day, looking busy, talking loud or not talking at all (depending on the, dare I say it, culture), shuffling paper, saying 'yes' to everything, moving parts, navigating spreadsheets, and so on. Really, they can probably do many if not all of those things in the comfort of their own home and still be productive. And many employees probably prefer to do so BUT they're not asked or, if they're asked, their employer doesn't really care. All of the above, and more, can soak the creativity out of otherwise creative and driven individuals. Regardless of the size of an organization, employers need to get straight to the point and ask their people: What do you need from me? The sincere ones will tell you. For example, I need clear direction on what my job is, what winning looks like, good pay, and a flexible work schedule built on trust. For me, work is work. It's not family, it's not a place to socialize or boost my ego. Unless you have no other social network I do understand how work can be a place for socializing and connecting. But for many, it's simply something we do and somewhere we go in order to make money. So, get to the heart of the matter. Whether you're an employer or an employee , ask: What do you need from me? Daniela bought a watermelon recently.
I cut it in half to give it the taste test. It was perfect. I put both halves in the fridge to keep them fresh. One of them went fairly quickly; a team effort by the boys and I =) The other half sat in the fridge close to a week, untouched. That is, until Seth asked for some fruit. I thought what could be better, he likes watermelon and this should still be good. It was. Daniela ended up cutting it in small pieces and put them into a plastic container. What do you think happened? That's right, it got eaten up in less than a day. All because of perception, really. What seemed like a big piece of watermelon was really just a bunch of smaller pieces. Break down that big project, chore, report or activity that's standing in front of you, like Goliath standing in front of David. What's one step you can take to gain some momentum in the right direction? Do it. Don't get frustrated. Or do, that's ok. But don't let it keep you from taking action.  If you follow me on Instagram (@altarpreneur), you know that I like to work in time batches - early AM, late AM and afternoon. This helps me stay organized and on top of my various tasks & projects, be it work-related or personal.
Another useful technique that I recently started incorporating into my schedule is the Pomodoro Technique, a method used for batching tasks. Pomodoro means “tomato” in Italian. The inventor of the technique, Francesco Cirillo (Italian), initially used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer when he developed the technique (you can Google it). I looked online for a simple 1-page sheet that I can use to put this technique into action but could not find one. So, I created it! (There is an app if you prefer those, it costs $4.99.) I find a simple sheet that I can keep nearby, on my desk, to be much more effective than swipes, taps, drop-downs, notifications, etc.. Here you go...use it well! The Pomodora Log (by Altarpreneur) - A Daily Task Tracker for Increased Productivity |
ABOUTBiblical, on-the-go, tips for thriving at work. Written by Danny Kovacs, from first-hand wins & losses. This is the digital space where I share free resources and learning moments throughout the week/month. ARCHIVES
August 2024
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