Have you ever had a job that come 5pm you feel completely drained? We’re talking mentally and physically drained, like all of your energy has literally been sapped out of you?
You may feel like you’re drained because despite how hard you try, you can’t seem to keep up with the demands or plain and simple – it’s just not what you signed up for. Your natural instinct may be to quit, or take a holiday, but what if you just started or if you aren’t able to find a new job fast enough?
Here are the top ways you can overcome job burnout and take back your life at the same time.
Put yourself first: No one else is going to, so this is key. Continue to work hard, but set boundaries when you need to leave on time for a personal function. It’s also wise to limit checking your work emails after-hours because you won’t be able to shut off that part of your brain. When you start thinking about your job as a means to pay your bills—and only that—you won’t be so upset.
Make a work friend: They say misery loves company, but in this case, you want to pick a positive friend! Befriend someone in the office who sees the good side of things—with the hope that their positivity will rub off. Also make sure to step away for coffee or lunch for a change of scenery once in a while.
Shorten your to-do list: There’s nothing worse than a daunting to-do list. Maintain one longer list that you refer to occasionally, but break down your daily tasks into three to four things, tops. Otherwise, you won’t feel like you’re accomplishing anything.
Find a new hobby: What have you always wanted to try? Is it dance lessons, a new type of yoga or just reading for fun? Find something outside of the office to focus on so your life doesn’t revolve around work.
PHOTO CRED: Timur Emek/Getty
Tell us how you overcome job burnout in the comments below!