5 Ways to Avoid a Work Burn Out IM HIRED

5 Ways to Avoid a Work Burn Out Ways to Stop Running on Empty   There is a huge difference between working hard and over working yourself. But finding the right balance can be difficult to establish. According to the HS Execute 11 million days a year are lost due to workplace stress. Working in a high pressure, high stake environment can quickly lead to feeling overwhelmed but there are ways to avoid these extreme stress levels and an office burn out. If you’re feeling at the end of your work tether, it’s time to take action. Know When to Take 5   When you’re feeling stressed at work, even the simplest decisions can seem overwhelming. Managing multiply tasks, working to several deadlines and dealing with the seemingly never ending interruptions, can make sticking to a schedule impossible. In these high pressure situations, it’s easy for your stress levels to rise, making juggling tasks more difficult to comprehend. Take time out to refocus and realign your thought process before making big decisions. Whether a 5 minute walk to get some fresh air or a trip to the kitchen to make a much needed cup of coffee. Having time away from your desk could reduce stress and make decisions clearer and easier to make. Be Open to Help Just because a task has been assigned to you, doesn’t mean its your responsibility alone to get the job done. When your workload begins to increase and becomes unmanageable don’t suffer alone. Speak to colleagues or your manager about any help available. Help often isn’t being provided simply due to the fact others arent aware youre struggling. So make use of team meetings or conversations with co-workers to update them about your workload. Have a network that you can rely on in busy periods. Taking on board the support of others isnt a weakness. It’s better to be able to collaborate and achieve as a team than to drown in work on your own. Dont Take On Too Much Saying yes to every one of your managers or colleagues requests might seem like an obvious way to get noticed and impress. However, taking on more and more work will resulting in you spreading yourself to thin. Meaning quality will slowly become secondary to quantity. We all want to be the people pleaser, but if your willingness to please is leading you to compromise too often, its better to be realistic about what you’re able to take on board. Be confident and assertive and don’t let others pile work onto you. If you’re struggling to say no, sit down with your manager to see if they can support in the distribution of work throughout your team. Keep to A Schedule   Work place stress can be elevated when managing multiply tasks in a random and unorganised fashion. Having a well-defined schedule to your working day can prevent the feeling of burn out. It isn’t always possible to plan for every eventuality, but you can at least be prepared for day to day activities. Whether you prefer the ease of an online calendar to assign your tasks in time slots or you prefer to use a paper based notebook to write down a daily to do list. Having everything written down will help you structure your time and free your mind to focus on the task in hand. Having  a clear structure also acts as a motivator. Giving you that sense of achievement as you get to tick off each task. A written schedule will help to show your value in any appraisals or 1-1s. Demonstrate the projects you have been involved within and the duties you have accomplished. Dont Blur The Lines Most roles will involve an element of doing extra to support in periods of peak but working overtime shouldn’t become a norm. Having adequate breaks and a clear divide between working hours and your personal life is essential to avoid a work burn out. Try to leave work on time at least a few times a week, turning off the computer and putting the phone on voicemail instead of replying to emails all evening or taking calls during dinner. Having real time away from the office will make you feel refreshed and energised for when youre actually back at work.