When you’re working hard to accomplish your goals, sometimes it can seem like there’s no way to beat burnout–the feeling that nothing is working out and that you’re running out of time. You may feel demotivated, or simply physically drained. It can be really hard to deal with, but there are some things you can do to stop yourself from feeling overwhelmed and start getting things you love done again.
The first thing you realize is that you aren’t alone. Many of us have been there. And we know that the only way to get through it is to make radical, disruptive changes by re-evaluating and strengthening personal boundaries to go beyond even more than what we thought we were capable of.
As someone who has experienced and coached professionals in many different burnout situations, I have learned a few things, and here are the 6 ways to beat burnout while staying productive:
Let’s dive right in:
1. Find someone who makes you laugh, who makes your heart feel lighter when they’re around, who makes you feel good about yourself, even briefly. When you feel burnout, you are already physically, mentally, or emotionally fatigued. The last thing you need around you are people who add to the drainage of energy, or those who will make you feel worse about the state you currently are in.
Acknowledge what you are feeling, and why. A trusted friend or family member can provide support and advice to help you through the process. They may have experienced burnout before, too, so don’t hesitate to ask what kind of help they provide.
2. Learn the language of setting boundaries. Many times burnout occurs in high-performing professionals who actually LOVE what they do. They are curious and excited about their work and feel as though they are missing out if they set parameters that allow them to slow down. Having prepared scripting goes a long way to conserving energy that would otherwise be spent thinking of what to say, how to say it, or why.
3. Listen to the recovery stories of others. What we listen to and watch influences us whether we like to admit it or not. Learn about the success stories of those who have recovered from burnout, what drove them to the state, and any advice they give for those in the current situations.
4. Get professional help. One of my colleagues, Caitlin Donovan shared research statistics on how long it takes to recover from burnout if you get professional help, vs if you Do It Yourself(DIY). Guess what? With professional help, you can recover on average within 8 months. Without it, you are looking at 2 to 5 years, and this just makes complete sense to me. If the issue leading it burnout was not addressed, how likely would it be to fix the problem alone now with compounding fatigue?
5. Schedule breaks. On the lighter side of things, know that you don’t have to work nonstop—you can schedule times throughout the day where you take a break and focus on something else. Maybe it’s meditating or going for a walk outside, or maybe it’s just taking a few minutes to drink some water or check your email. Whatever works for you! I personally like to have lunch away from work, get in the sunlight, drink water, and talk to a friend.
6. Take care of yourself. This can mean getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising regularly (even if just for 10 minutes). It also means letting go of things that aren’t important in the long run—like worrying about what other people think of you or stressing about yesterday’s mistakes when all that matters is today and tomorrow.
I’ve been there—I’ve been in that place where I feel like every second counts, and that every minute I’m not working is wasted. When I started my career, I never imagined that the thing that would give me additional energy would be a detox from social media.
It’s not that social media is a bad thing—it’s just that sometimes, we get so caught up in trying to make sure we’re doing it all right that we forget what this whole thing is about: people.
I decided to disrupt myself to deepen my focus with a social media detox. And let me tell you… it was hard! It was easier at the beginning but as time went on, I wondered what I was missing. Luckily, I had a plan and frameworks in place to support me in achieving my goal.
It was completely worth it!
My productivity levels skyrocketed after the first day which helped me learn how important it is for me to disconnect from technology COMPLETELY so that I can focus on other ways to nurture and strengthen relationships while growing my business.
I realized that taking a break from social media wasn’t about missing out on anything. It was about feeling free from the pressure to create content and “be present and consistent” online—and also, to connect with people in real life instead of just through social media profiles.
And now that this realization has sunk in? I’m more relaxed than ever! Not only have I added focus, but it is a resilience hack that allowed me to face additional challenges with a positive mindset, and hope for the future. 6 ways to beat burnout while staying productive surely does hemp me!
This is a resilience strategy that is unconventional and underrated. It’s so powerful, I am doing it again, and if you want to join me watch my personal story and submit your information here. I’m only taking 12 people on this journey later in the year with me.
Would you like to learn more about 6 ways to beat burnout while staying productive? Visit the media page, or if you’d like to book a consult for private coaching, contact me today.