Do you know your limits?
Burnout can be caused by feeling like you have no control. A pressure we have produced internally. An "I must do this" mindset.
It can also be external, hearing from others about what "you should" do (refer to a couple of posts back). The key here is knowing your limits and standing by them. For each of us, those limits will look slightly different.
Work can get busy for many of us, as can the pressure to be everything to everyone in our personal lives.
If you're feeling under pressure:
💡 At work, speak with your supervisor or manager about expectations. Gain clarity on what they expect of you, not just what you think they expect. Even better - compile a list of your workload/tasks and deadlines. They may be unaware of just how much you have on your plate.
💡 In your personal life, it comes down to communication again. Being able to communicate what your limits are. It may be as simple as, "I need some time to myself this weekend, but let's catch up next weekend."
"If you love what you do you will never work another day in your life." - I'm not sure how I feel about this quote. I love what I do and work hard at it, so I still need to manage my limits.
As someone who is self-employed, here's what I like to do:
👉 Mix it up. I like to alternate tasks, switching when I get tired. I might write a couple of emails, then work on a programme for an upcoming workshop, and then connect with a client or two. Mixing it up brings variety, excitement, replenishment, and satisfaction.
👉 I build balance into my day. Balance for me looks like meeting people for coffee, regular exercise, and getting lost in a movie at the end of the day. If I feel overwhelmed; I stop and go for a run, do a workout, or relax with a cuppa for 20 minutes.
If you think you might have burnout, try taking a week off and see if you feel better. If you don't, perhaps it could be. Burnout often needs some form of external intervention. Otherwise, it's just ourselves talking to ourselves about ourselves. Please do seek out professional help if you think this might be you.
So what are your limits? Let's talk!
Knowing Your Limits To Manage The Risk Of Burnout.