How to Avoid Becoming a Victim to Burnout
In this fast paced world we live in and so much to cope with on a daily basis the risk of becoming a victim to burnout is increasing. This is especially the case for the dedicated, diligent person that strives for excellence in everything they do, particularly for someone that has multiple tasks that require a lot of focus in order to achieve this which in turn causes a lot of stress.
Defining burnout
When a person has pushed themselves beyond their limits for too long and they end up suffering from long-term exhaustion. They begin to lose interest in their job and become much less productive. Eventually they are unable to continue working because their body and mind basically shutdown and needs a “timeout”.
An example of someone that could become a victim of burnout would have a job that would require them to multitask throughout the day, every day and very often in a job they don’t like. Bear in mind that a person that strives for personal excellence, will most likely put all their energy and focus into whatever job they do, even if they don’t enjoy it.
Research has proved that multitasking causes chaos in the brain which actually leads to brain damage. Dr Caroline Leaf goes more into details about this suggests a simple practice to do over a seven day period. For details about this, watch the video here.
The Warning Signs That You May be Heading for Burnout
Feeling physically and emotionally exhausted (insomnia, no energy, struggling to concentrate, confusion, anger, frustration)
- Being cynical and detached (withdrawal from people and activities, pessimism)
- Feelings of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment (increased irritability, apathy, indifferent hopelessness)
Work Smarter, not Harder
Marie Forleo, who according to Oprah is the next generations thought leader, has a method she calls R.S.E.T. she uses to avoid burnout.
R – Review your day, preferably the night before and plan your breaks in advance, every 90 minutes.
E – Make it easy to remember to take the breaks by setting alarms on your phone. It’s easy to get so engrossed in what you are doing that before you know it, several hours have passed by without you noticing.
S – Step away from whatever you are doing.
E – Exersate. Hydrate yourself and get some exercise. Go for a quick walk, if you have a bicycle handy, hop on and go for a ride around the block. Do whatever you can to get your body moving and your mind onto something completely different.
T – Tune back in to whatever you were working on and continue until your next break. Rinse and repeat.
The Importance of Rest and a Balanced Diet
In 1893, Frederick Taylor did a scientific study of the work habits of workers in a steel mill and the results were that production increased considerably when the workers took regular breaks.
A diet high in good quality protein (amino acids) is really important for the brain to function at an optimal level. Just like a car needs fuel, oil and water, so does the body. Neither can run on empty.