It’s been a long year, with technology continuing to blur the boundaries of work and home, bringing with it a pressure to continuously perform. Being always on, without the relief of a break leaves people overwhelmed and more likely to experience burnout.
Image: Pexels
According to a recent Gallup study of nearly 7 500 full-time employees, burned out employees are 63% more likely to take a sick day’s leave, 23% more likely to visit the emergency room, 2.6 times more likely to leave their current employer and 13% less confident in their performance.
“Burnout results in physical, emotional and psychological exhaustion, often accompanied by feelings of helplessness, self-doubt, being unmotivated, defeated and fatigued in every area of life. However, there are ways to regain your balance and feel empowered and positive about life once more,” says Natalie Rabson, Wellness Counsellor at Boson City Campus & Business College.
Natalie shares the following 6 tips to survive the last working weeks of the year:
1. Reframe the way you see your work. Changing your attitude can help you regain a sense of purpose and control. Look for something that you enjoy in your work – be it connecting with others, assisting a fellow colleague or providing a service that impacts positively on someone’s life.
SEE ALSO: The cost of skipping work
2. Redefine your relationship to work. Notice patterns, such as not switching off when you leave the office, replacing them with a greater sense of self-acceptance, recognition and self-nurturing by giving yourself time out to recharge.
3. Self-care. Create ways to nurture yourself physically, emotionally and mentally by exercising daily, meditating, eating nourishing foods such as fresh fruit and foods rich in Omega-3 oils (sardines, salmon, almonds) and getting at least 7 hours of sleep each night.
SEE ALSO: 5 tips to conquering working a full-time job and studying part-time
3. Set boundaries. Learn to say “no” to additional requests on your time so that you can focus on your own priorities. Set aside times for relaxation and disconnecting from technology, especially a half hour before you go to sleep so that you are not constantly bombarded with information.
5. Be selective. Well known life coach, Jim Rohn said that we’re the average of the 5 people in our lives. Keep this in mind and surround yourself with people who have a supportive and positive outlook on life.”
SEE ALSO: 5 ways to get back into a healthy work routine after the holidays
6. Communicate. Sharing your thoughts and feelings can help relieve stress. Although isolation may feel preferable during this time, it is important to connect with friends, family, your co-workers or to join a support group such as SADAG.
“Recovering from or avoiding burnout means preserving your energy. Notice your working patterns and be vigilant about taking your breaks. Remembering that you always have this choice helps you to start feeling more in control of your life, enabling you to build up the resilience and positive outlook which will keep you buoyant until the start of the Holiday Season,” concludes Natalie.
