avoiding burnout

As someone that has suffered burnout twice in the last 2 years, it appears that I have not learnt from my own mistakes, in fact it seems that once again, I’m actually, in real time, heading towards a breakdown. I have issues with optimism and for setting far-reaching goals that I then break and bend to attain them. I wish I was more realistic with the amount I can accomplish and then set this boundary. Although pushing and developing is generally a positive thing, taking more on your plate and not getting enough down time is a recipe for disaster. Here’s a few other things I’ve learnt on the way:

1. Saying no is positive  

Saying no means that you know your limits and can safely set boundaries. This also means that you have self-esteem and value for your own time and efforts. This comes with growing up as usually good communication skills and self-awareness are required to truly master the art of saying no.

2. Actually switching off 

If you have a job where it’s hard to switch off from like I do, it might be useful to take a large chunk of a holiday so you can at least reset. The weekend usually just isn’t long enough for me to recover as I know I have upcoming deadlines to achieve for the next monday and of course I never have quiet days to pace myself.

3. Distracting yourself with other things 

It can be a sport, a craft or some social times with friends. Preferably it’s an activity which gets the good endorphins pumping in your blood and where you can work along to your personal goals too. TV soaps and similar lethargic activities will become depressing in the long terms

4. Slow your days down 

Having a fast-paced graduate job can leave you feeling that your twenties are being sucked out of you, it’s not how you want to spend time. Slowing down the days can help to rebalance the busier hours. 

5. Eat healthy and sleep well!

This sounds cliche but I honestly believe this saves lives. Visit your local farmer’s marker to find organic greens, eat local and regional. Sleep at least 7-8 hours a day and set your sleep schedule where you can naturally wake up.

6. Maintain your routine/schedule 

Having a sort of morning routine is a good way of ticking off your personal time off, this can be to study a language, exercise, journal or mediate. Ensuring you’re putting yourself first can sometimes mean physically putting your own tasks before your work. Once these are completed, you can move onto your 9-5. Waking up at 6am means that you have 2 hours for your own tasks – writing/exercising/practicing a musical instrument before you even start your day.