Dealing with Burn Out
Feeling tired, exhausted, paralyzed, lost in a fog? Burnt out? What do we mean when say we feel “burnt out”? We are often exhausted long before we notice the warning signs: Failing performance at tasks you generally do well; strained relationships that are usually warm; an edgy and short response that is out of character.
It’s at this point that we ask, “How in the world did I get this way?” We are typically so distracted that it takes conscious effort to take a step back and evaluate our situation.
As leaders, we often think it’s our duty to be “first one in, last one out” at the office. Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean we are being productive or performing at our best.
If you’re working long hours at the office over a long period of time, it’s likely due to one of three reasons:
The role is too big. The scope of our work can shift over time. Sometimes we transition into a new role when we haven’t left the old one. We are, in effect, working two jobs at once.
Your don’t have the right talent. Are you doing what you love? Are you doing what you’re best at? If you are working in your sweet spot, you shouldn’t have to work extra hours to get a reasonable amount of work done.
There’s a reason you don’t want to go home. Has something changed recently outside of work? As many workaholics know, we can use work to avoid other parts of our life.
Take a step back today and evaluate your level of burn out. Ask yourself, “What’s changed in me or my environment recently?” There’s often an easy solution that we haven’t thought of before. We simply need to take the time to reflect on our actions and our context.
