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7 Reasons People Burnout
These days, there isn't one person I know who doesn't deal with
the feeling of being overwhelmed at least once a day. We all
have too much to do. However, these feelings add up. Sooner or
later, the body is taking so much stress and frustration that
it declares, "Time Out!" Unfortunately, this time out
tends to show up in our health (how many colds have you had this
year?), in our patience level with our family, friends and the
traffic, and in a decrease in the enjoyment of our work. To deal
with this "burnout," we often numb out in order to
cope with the flood of negative feelings. We may feel less pain,
but we also lose our ability to have a deep experience of joy
in any part of our lives.
You may have read tips in the past describing what you should
do. Instead, here's some advice for WHAT NOT TO DO, then what
to do instead.
The Top 7 Ways You Can Drain Your Energy At Work...And How You
Can Choose to Stay Living While You're Alive
1. Focus on what you can't control.
When you focus on what you can't control, like the work styles
of others, the economy, and the personality of your children,
you have little energy left to create. Focus instead only on
what you can control, like taking care of yourself, meeting the
goals that excite you, and discovering what you can delegate.
2. Hold on too tightly to what you thought would happen.
Clinging to your expectations blocks out possibilities. We all
have pictures of what we thought our careers and lives would
look like at a certain point. Then life intervenes but we don't
change the picture, setting us up for frustration and disappointment.
Taking what you have today, draw a new vision for your future.
Then choose to fine tune your vision on a regular basis.
3. Don't ask for help.
What a burden having to know and do everything for yourself.
Asking for help doesn't make you look weak. It's a strength knowing
how to best use your resources.
4. Listen to your brain.
The brain was designed to protect us, so it is often on the
lookout for the worst possible scenarios so there are no surprises.
Don't let your brain speak so loud that you don't see all your
options.
5. Take yourself seriously.
Taking your work seriously is admirable. Taking yourself seriously
is a joke. Woody Allen said, "Comedy is tragedy plus time." If
you're going to laugh someday anyway, why not start now?
6. Forget to say thank you.
Be grateful for what you overlook. You'll be amazed at how much
of what is going on around you is good. Thank the cashier in
the grocery store for working quickly. Thank the post office
for having enough clerks during rush hour. Thank your muscles
for being healthy when you are painfully exercising. Shift your
energy to gratitude, even humor, and you'll lighten up your load.
7. Give up.
You've spent years creating the habits that so efficiently drain
you. Becoming someone new takes time. Look at your new vision
every day. The difficulties matter less when you have somewhere
to go.
Additional techniques found in Capture the Rapture: How to Step
out of Your Head and Leap into Life by Marcia Reynolds, Executive
Coach and Leadership consultant with expertise in emotional intelligence
and personal effectiveness. For more information on Marcia's
business, and free reports and surveys, visit her website at
www.covisioning.com.
