Beating burnout?

The workplace can be stressful but there are times when what you are experiencing may be more than a little stress. You could be suffering from burn out.

Signs that you may be burnt out:

• Lost your enthusiasm for getting the job done?

• Are you easily frustrated by customers and coworkers about insignificant things?

• Spend time worrying about work and what needs to be done?{{more}}

•l Can’t remember the last time you enjoyed laughing while at work?

• No longer get a feeling of accomplishment from your work?

• Feel ready to look for a new job?

• Does your job feel like a burden that is suffocating you?

What to do if you are burnt out:

If you answered yes to two or more of the above questions it’s time to address the issue head on. People who experience burnout are usually top performing employees. These individuals usually throw their heart and soul into their work because they actually enjoy what they do and gain much satisfaction when they’ve completed a project, helped a client, solved a problem, created or enhanced a new product or service.

Take some time off. Tackling burnout can be simple. To reverse the problem, you might want to take a day off from work just to regroup for a few hours. Sometimes a little time to pamper yourself and have a little fun can be just the thing needed to gain a new perspective and get a new game plan.

Change your mindset: Burnout starts when we begin to look at the situations around us and make negative associations. Author Charles Swindoll said that “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.”With that said, a person suffering from burnout chooses to interpret incidents or situations in a negative light and that must change in order to reverse burnout. Instead of just interpreting the situation in a negative way, try to see the issue from a more optimistic point of view.

Change your routine. Routines can get boring really fast so consider mixing your daily tasks. Don’t do things in the same order, if you normally have meetings in the mornings switch them to the afternoons if possible and vary your activities to avoid repetition.

Give your space a make over: Consider a little redecorating just so you can feel more comfortable in a slightly altered environment. Seeing the same pictures and the same desk and chair in the same formation can be enough to cause depressing feelings. Consider changing something about yourself to boost your confidence as well. A new hairstyle, a few new pieces in your wardrobe or do whatever it takes to get you moving again.

Discuss the issue with your supervisor: Explain the problem to your supervisor and let that person know that you want to be more productive.

Ask to try new tasks, attempt new approaches to your job or simply explore different ways to stimulate your creative juices again

Get a new job: If you attempt all the above suggestions with no significant changes it might be time for a new job or even a new career.

There are times when a complete change is needed in order for you to grow and reach new heights. Don’t be afraid to explore this option, however do not begin job-hunting prematurely.