Top Tips for Avoiding Burnout

Top Tips for Avoiding Burnout – Guest Article By Carolyn Hobdey

‘Burnout’ has been on the rise in terms of discussion because its incidence is increasing. Yet, as a concept it is still not well understood or recognised. Having suffered from burnout in my life, I understand all too well the difference between this and its more well-known sibling, stress.

Whilst the incidents of burnout are increasing, the good news is that recognition of it, as well as the appreciation that it is not the preserve of high-flying executives working 90-hour weeks, are also more common.

So, what is burnout?

It’s really important to distinguish burnout from stress. Whilst the two exist on a continuum, there are some fundamental differences that it is useful to know so that you can recognise the signs in yourself and others. These differences are:

Stress…	Burnout…
can be both positive and negative	is a response to extended, excessive stress
is temporary	leaves you mentally & physically drained
motivates you to action	makes you less effective
helps you grow and achieve a goal	leaves you feeling helpless
is characterised by over-engagement	is characterised by disengagement

A basic rule of thumb is that burnout occurs when stress tips over from being an enablement for action into causing disablement to act.

Next, we’re going to look at some top tips for avoiding burnout.

Top Tips for Avoiding Burnout

What can be done to avoid burnout? Here are my top tips:

1. Make stress your friend – handling stress more effectively significantly reduces the likelihood of burnout. Changing your mindset to seeing stress as a positive ‘call to action’ scientifically reduces the negative impact of it on you physiologically.
2. Lessen the load – look at what you have going on. Is it realistic? Are you expecting too much of yourself or trying to do too much? By stepping back and taking a look at how much ‘work’ you have – either in the home or your job – and taking some action to make it more manageable will help enormously.
3. Have your say – how much control do you have over what you do, when you do it or how? When we feel more control of our lives, we feel less stressed. Often, we have more control than we imagine, so ask yourself what you have direct control over, what you can influence in some way and what is outside of your control (and therefore you should perhaps stop worrying about).
4. Backup plan – knowing what support you have around you, whether that’s the encouragement of family, the sponsorship of work colleagues/your line manager or just the right resources to get done the things you need to, will help to reduce stress levels.
5. Pick your team – positive relationships are crucial to helping us effectively handle stress. In the same way that toxic relationships add to it. Actively seek to eliminate or minimise the impact of negative people in your life and you will instantly feel ‘lighter’. Not easy to do, but the rewards are considerable.
6. Know your place – being clear about your role and responsibilities is essential at home and at work. It reduces conflict by banishing confusion and stops you wasting time on unnecessary arguments or politics about who does what. Taking time to clarify who is responsible for what (and if you can’t sort that for everyone, just make sure you’re clear for you!) will pay dividends.
7. Change is a chance – we are frequently conditioned to see change as something to be feared, but in reality, we adapt in our lives all the time and so we should have confidence that we can cope with it. Look for the opportunity that change brings. If change is happening around you, be sure to voice your concerns and ask questions to gain certainty.
8. Balancing act – perspective can be compromised when we feel under pressure. Ongoing stress means we can lose our sense of balance as emotions run high. Make a concerted effort to keep things in perspective – make lists of pros and cons, seek the counsel of a trusted friend or colleague, try to step back from situations and be objective.
9. Acceptance – if you are stressed, acknowledge it. At that stage you stand your best chance of preventing burnout. So, accept the situation. Accept help. Accept that you are not expected to deal with everything alone. There is no medal for braving it singlehandedly.

Remember that stress exists on a continuum, from positive, motivating stress through to debilitating burnout, so by noticing your signs of stress and being proactive about ways to manage it, you have a significantly better chance of avoiding burnout.

Redefining SELFISH: No guilt, no regrets is out on eBook on 1^st July 2021, paperback out later in the year, £4.99 available online at all eBook retailers and www.carolynhobdey.com

Guest Author Bio:

Carolyn Hobdey is the author of ‘All The Twats I Met Along The Way’ and founder of the Redefining SELFISH community. She lived a life of shame and blame so is now passionate about pioneering new ways of thinking to ensure we live without guilt and regrets. As CEO of MayDey Ltd, Carolyn is a regular speaker and media commentator on issues of toxic relationships, self-esteem, women’s health (including the menopause), selfishness, narcissism and many other imperative, topical women’s issues.

With over 20 years spent as an award-winning Human Resources professional in some of the world’s largest employers, Carolyn earned a seat at the boardroom table leading internationally recognisable brands. En route, she gained a Masters in Lean Operations at Cardiff University where she was the first HR specialist to undertake the course and became the winner of the inaugural Sir Julian Hodge Prize for Logistics, Operations & Manufacturing.

Carolyn lives in Harrogate and enjoys boxing, dancing and socialising with friends.

Guest Article.