Whether graduation is near or you’re beginning a new career, there is something you should be mindful of on your journey. BURNOUT! I'm sure you've heard it before. Preventing burnout has become a priority for employers in recent years. Think about it, how can you run a successful business with employees who are overly stressed? It is impossible. Some common signs of a burnt-out employee can be:
- Decreased productivity
- Disengagement
- Absenteeism
To prevent this from happening, employers have begun to invest in wellness programs for their staff. These are programs designed to improve the overall physical and mental health of employees. Common company sponsored events could be yoga classes, Zumba classes, weight loss challenges, or free educational seminars. Today, companies are known to have an indoor gym and other stress relieving perks on the premises.
When the new year came, I’m sure you told yourself that this year, you're going to do things different and have a better year overall. You started with a list of goals you wanted to achieve and that initial motivation gave you an enormous amount of energy to start to get the ball rolling. Three months into the new year, how are those goals looking? Eventually your energy will start to lower and you'll begin to slow down. It's inevitable that your motivation will fall and the pressure to keep everything in order will rise. This behavior can be seen in students as well as those who have begun their career. Students have the pressure juggling multiple midterms and projects, while individuals in the workforce may have overwhelming job demands. This does not include your own personal responsibilities which can also be a hassle. The lack of control can ultimately lead to some form of burnout.
“If any of this sounds familiar, its time to take control”
No matter what stage of your career you are in, you must learn how to manage your responsibilities to optimize your results. Being aware of your strengths and weaknesses will be key in preventing burnout. Once your habits begin to shift, you must be able to recognize the change and recover to get yourself back on track. We break down the essential steps in preventing burnout into two categories. Time Management and Health.
TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS
PRIORITIZATION: Not all tasks require your immediate attention and it's best to set realistic goals. Being aware of the best way to maintain your workload will be beneficial in the long run. Spreading a task over time is a great way to avoid procrastination. Take into account the deadlines of projects as well. It will help you organize your tasks from least important to urgent, creating a more effective way to tackle your challenges.
THE POWER OF NO: It may seem hard to say “no” at times because you afraid of hurting someone’s feelings or you just might feel obligated to say “yes”. Adding more to your plate is a sure way to speed up or increase your chance of experiencing burnout. It doesn’t happen overnight but this is something we must all learn to do.
ME TIME: Set aside time for yourself! Your brain must take the time to reboot itself. Our responsibilities will always have our minds focusing on what needs to be done. Take the time to separate yourself from work and or school and enjoy yourself. Pick up your favorite book, watch a new movie, or play a video game.
HEALTH TIPS
DIET: Believe it or not, but the food you eat can affect your mood and energy. Don’t believe me? Think about the last time you were hangry. Once you fed the beast, your attitude towards the world changed. Be mindful of the foods you eat that give you more energy and add more of it into your diet. You can never go wrong with more fruits.
SLEEP: You should be getting at least 7 – 8 hours of sleep a night. In the world, we live in, that may sound impossible, but getting the recommended amount of sleep will have positive effects on your memory and give you a stronger immune system.
EXERCISE: A 45min – 1 hour workout will be a sure way to get rid of the stress you build up. This will increase your productivity, give you an energy boost, and make you feel good.