The typical work calendar is blocked out with back-to-back meetings, huddles, workshops, town halls…so many things to attend. We’re all super busy.
And, because of this, the only time left in the day to do the work is after hours. This is the only time when you can slow down and find the space to do the thinking required to do the work. This means that you’re always ‘on’ and this leads to burnout.
A Harvard Business Review article titled Beyond Burned Out had two key findings:
One, that 89% of respondents said their work-life was getting worse. And two, that 62% of the people who were struggling to manage their workloads had experienced burnout “often” or “extremely often” in the previous three months.
The article was based on research with over 1500 respondents in 46 countries, across various industry sectors, roles and seniority levels. It concluded that “burnout is a global issue”.
Here are two strategies to avoid burnout:
1. Psychological detachment: this is the ability to mentally step away from work when you’re not working. Mental detachment does not mean you don’t care; it’s more about closing off the day, not thinking about work, and picking it up the following day. An effective way to do this is by reviewing the day, listing what was accomplished, listing priorities for the following day then signing off. This signals to the brain that it is time to disconnect.
2. Recovery not just rest: plenty of research shows that burnout is both physical and emotional due to the multiple roles working women play and the burden of expectations placed upon us. Whereas rest, which involves stopping activity, is useful, recovery is more effective. Recovery requires replenishing our exhausted levels of emotional, mental and physical resources. Ways to do this include solitude, being in nature or pursuing creative projects. Recovery is not indulgence, it is maintenance and must be done to avoid burnout.
Let’s keep burnout at bay.