When the pandemic first started in 2020, I started seeing inklings of burning out in my clients. As the year continued with more and more Zoom meetings, the inklings turned into confirmations as my clients shared issues they were having, not knowing at the time it was burnout.
Are you, like me and almost every other person on this planet, dealing with burnout? Here 7 tips for managing your stress and combatting some of the symptoms:
- Identify your stressors — How can you change something if you don’t know what needs to change? Take some time to think about what’s really going on for you and what are the indicators that you’re less engaged in life than you used to be.
- Talk — If you’re struggling, be transparent, let someone know, and ask them to help you identify solutions. Your person could be your manager, a colleague or friend, or a therapist. Get the support you need.
- Delegate — Whether at work or home, ascertain what tasks you can ask others to do, even if only for a season while you catch your breath. What are some chores you can ask or teach your children or ask your partner to do? What are some duties at work you can ask a teammate to take over?
- Find an accountability partner — Whether a coach, mentor, sponsor, colleague, or friend, find someone who will keep you “honest” about managing your stress and burnout.
- Move — I don’t mean to leave where you reside. But change the scenery and find a different environment to get some work done. It can be another room if you’re working from home, another office or conference room, if you’ve returned to work, or a coffee shop, library, or other public location.
- Practice self-care — Exercise, eat nutritious snacks and meals, address any sleep issues, spend time in prayer/meditation/quiet, and find an activity that makes you smile or laugh. Also, manage your time. Stop trying to cram 24+ hours’ worth of tasks in an 8, 10, or even 12 hour day.
- Be consistent! — We often don’t achieve what we want because we’re not consistent in our efforts. If you want to reduce stress, you must make these practices habits. Habits are difficult to break but once you break one and start another, you’ll see that the new habit is just as easy to maintain.
To learn more about managing stress and burnout, leading others, and becoming a stronger leader, contact Julianna for a consultation.