{"id":5096,"date":"2016-03-15T05:00:25","date_gmt":"2016-03-15T05:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/redbooth.com\/hub\/?p=5096"},"modified":"2016-04-29T04:31:56","modified_gmt":"2016-04-29T04:31:56","slug":"beat-burnout-boost-motivation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redbooth.com\/hub\/beat-burnout-boost-motivation\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Beat Burnout and Boost Motivation"},"content":{"rendered":"

By the time you’re cursing at your alarm every time it goes off each morning, you know something is off.<\/p>\n

You throw your pillow across the room and swear you won\u2019t go in today\u00a0or any other day for that matter. But somehow, you get yourself out of the house and into the office. You slide into your chair and fire up the computer; you know what you need to start working on, but you just can\u2019t muster the energy. You\u2019re listless and bored. You\u2019ve lost interest.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re burnt out.<\/p>\n

Even when we love our jobs, it\u2019s natural to hit a wall sometimes \u2014 especially in today\u2019s 24\/7 business landscape where we are psychologically and physically attached to the job. Why? Because we take the office with us, in our pockets, wherever we go. Our mobile devices and tablets keep us constantly connected via phone calls, texts and emails.<\/p>\n

Without adjusting our work styles, we are in danger of becoming over-stressed and depleted\u2014 totally burnt out.<\/p>\n

Here are twelve tips to revive your passion and beat burnout.<\/p>\n

Take breaks<\/h2>\n

Working non-stop is no way to be productive. You must recharge your battery by getting up and out of your chair to do something else.<\/p>\n

Spend at least 10 minutes a day in a quiet place, away from distractions. Breathe. Turn your mind to other matters, or meditate. You\u2019ll be surprised how these short and quiet moments will clear your mind and boost your interest when you return to the work at hand.<\/p>\n

Take walks or go running<\/h2>\n

I\u2019ve never been one for \u201cgoing out for lunch.\u201d Funnily enough, it took me a long time to take any kind of lunch break at all. But then I discovered walking.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d walk around the campus exactly twice, which was nearly a three-mile trek. Great for staying in shape, getting your vitamin D, and refreshing your mind, heart, and soul.<\/p>\n

Put away your digital devices<\/h2>\n

Come on, you can do it. I know you can! Sure, on those days you\u2019re expecting a call from the dishwasher repairman\u00a0or the principal from your kid\u2019s school, keep you phone handy. For all other calls, you can wait until your next break to check out what\u2019s going on.<\/p>\n

Pare down your to-do list<\/h2>\n

Okay, you\u2019ve got a long list of things to do. So, get out your highlighter and color the three tasks you plan to get done today. Check off those three items at the end of the day, and notice how productive and accomplished you feel.<\/p>\n

Do something creative and fun<\/h2>\n

Do you have any hobbies?<\/p>\n

I used to take pottery classes right after work, or yoga, or drawing classes. These healthy distractions gave me purpose outside the job, and they were something to look forward to while on the job.<\/p>\n

Take long weekends and vacations<\/h2>\n

Americans don\u2019t get a lot of vacation time from their employers. If you\u2019ve got some banked away, take them. Take off a Friday, if only to sleep in late and attend to some chores. Or, take off three weeks to visit the Maldives Islands.<\/p>\n

Your job will still be there when you get back, and most of your work will have been handled by others. I promise.<\/p>\n

Take naps<\/h2>\n

I once worked in a small office. Very small. There were only three people\u2014 my boss, a programmer and me. The \u201cboss\u201d would take a 20-minute nap, every day. He\u2019d just go into the back room, turn off the lights, and lay on a blanket. Not all office environments are conducive to, or look kindly upon, that kind of activity. And not all people can fall asleep on a dime for a 10-20 minute stretch in the middle of the day (like me, for instance).<\/p>\n

However, if you\u2019re among those who have the means and the wherewithal, I say go for it. Naps are known to refresh your mind and body, and give you that new perspective you may need toward the end of the day.<\/p>\n

Celebrate the small stuff<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re working on an unwieldy project that is expected to take months to accomplish, chances are this project is composed of smaller clusters of tasks that lead sequentially to the final product. Treat those \u201csub-projects\u201d as milestones; recognize and celebrate their completion with your team.<\/p>\n

Get more sleep<\/h2>\n

Anyone will tell you this, but if you\u2019re a night owl like me, it\u2019s not easy advice to take. One thing I\u2019ve found that helps is turning off the TV \u2014 even when I\u2019m wide awake and could watch another 3 hour\u2019s worth. I\u2019m always surprised that I fall asleep pretty quickly when the room is dark and quiet, despite my yearning to stay up and watch the 11:00 news!<\/p>\n

Question deadlines<\/h2>\n

Whenever I was given a deadline at work, I never questioned it. I just accepted it as gospel that came from high on Mount Olympus. I\u2019d race against the clock, tear my hair out and make myself a wreck just to finish on time. Only to be told later \u201cOh, the product team is postponing the launch until they conduct a little more research.\u201d At the end of the day, the sky didn\u2019t fall.<\/p>\n

The truth is, some deadlines are pulled completely out of thin air. They can be absurdly unrealistic, and set you up to fail. Take a close look at the assignments you receive. Look at the schedule, and each step leading to the final delivery date. Is there really enough time allotted for each task? If not, meet with your supervisor and present a case that explains why the schedule needs revising and how. Chances are your boss will agree and get the schedule amended to reflect a more realistic timeframe.<\/p>\n

Set clear boundaries<\/h2>\n

Burnout happens when we are too nice: We say \u201cyes\u201d to too many people and take on too many tasks outside our primary job function. So set strong boundaries. The clearer the better. In writing, if possible.<\/p>\n

Hold onto your dreams<\/h2>\n

If you started your job with passion, and a love for what you do, don\u2019t give up. Your burnout could be a temporary setback\u2014something that will pass, especially if you practice the tips above. If you still believe in the work, don\u2019t surrender, no matter how apathetic, exhausted, or frustrated you might feel.<\/p>\n

In addition to these tips on what to do to avoid burnout, there are a few habits to avoid as well:<\/p>\n