People Who Avoid Burnout at Work Swear by These 14 Strategies

Let’s be real here. Corporate life is only getting worse. We’re exhausted, trying to stay up and perform our best, but it’s not easy when you’re burned out. Inflation and a poor economy are making things worse. Many of us can’t afford to quit, so we’ve got to tough it out. Well, it’s challenging, but here are a couple of tested strategies to stay on top of things and prevent burnout.

Set Clear Boundaries

You might be eager to share your professional skills, but oversharing and overcompensating can lead to workplace exploitation. Most employers normalize expecting their employees to do everything, so it’s important you set clear boundaries. Work only during official work hours, so don’t hesitate to take your break. Also, clearly communicate that you won’t be available off-hours. You might think it’s not nice, but you’ll be called in to work excessively if you don’t set boundaries.

Take Regular Breaks

Losing ourselves to work is easy, especially when a big deadline comes. But working when you’re crumbling inside will only affect your performance and put your job at risk. It’s important to take regular breaks, whether a simple coffee break, a walk in the park, or something much bigger like a mental health day, to stay on top of things and avoid burnout.

Prioritize Tasks

This one’s for all those employees who struggle to keep top of their work: prioritize tasks. We often get behind deadlines because we take on more than we can handle and don’t know how to proceed. If you’re ever given multiple tasks, it’s best to prioritize them according to urgency and deadlines to ensure you aren’t staying up past work hours or putting in unnecessary overtime.

Delegate Responsibilities

You don’t have to shoulder the responsibilities of your colleagues. You might be expected to share some workload, but it’s best if you set boundaries in advance and delegate tasks and responsibilities fairly to ensure a clean break. This way, you won’t get exhausted; if your project ever runs behind the deadline, you won’t have to worry about a thing because you keep up to date with your share of the workload.

Say No When Needed

It’s pretty awkward to say no in a corporate setting, especially when you aren’t used to standing up for yourself. But no matter how uncomfortable or impossible it may seem, never hesitate to take a stand for yourself and say no when you know you’re not up for the task. Avoid overcommitting so your company knows not to put unfair responsibilities and expect you to shoulder them.

Limit Multitasking

While multitasking is usually a good thing, it’s also often the main reason behind workplace burnout. You don’t have to multitask all the time, especially if some responsibilities are not officially designated to you. If your contract doesn’t call for a certain responsibility, don’t take it up; stick to what’s in it, and you’ll find yourself much happier and freer.

Unplug After Hours

Speaking of feeling free, most of us burn out at work because we’ve got nothing going on beyond that. You might be tired as heck, but it’s important to unplug after hours and give yourself enough space to mentally, physically, and emotionally recover from the long day you’ve had. Treat yourself to a cup of tea or a glass of wine, tune in to your favorite show, and calm your nerves before you sleep.

Get Enough Sleep

Once your body has relaxed, it’s time to go to bed. You might be attracted to the latest season of your favorite show, but keep that for the weekends. It’s important you get enough sleep to recharge and wake up refreshed for the next morning. It might take a while for you to get used to your new routine, but once you’ve adjusted, you’ll feel much more relaxed.

Build a Support System

You might think you’re in it alone, but work is hard for all of us. And who better understands your struggles than someone in the same boat and in the same company? Having a support system at your workplace means that a group of trusted colleagues will be there to help you navigate a tough work day and avoid any frustration. Just remember not to overshare.

Set Realistic Goals

We all want to be the perfect employee, but pushing yourself beyond your limits to seek perfectionism will only make you regret it. It’s important to utilize your skills where they’ll be appreciated, especially in a way that doesn’t damage your capability. Working toward unrealistic goals will make you happy, but working toward realistic goals will make you much more successful.

Stay Hydrated

You might think this is just an old-school strategy, but proper hydration is all we sometimes need to stay on top of our day. If we’re dehydrated, it’s easy for us to succumb to mental and physical weakness. Being dehydrated also puts us at risk of falling sick, so we have greater chances of experiencing burnout unless we drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Engage in Physical Activity

Engaging in regular physical activity offers a boatload of benefits. From releasing endorphins and reducing stress to improving mental clarity and much more, it is a literal cheat code to avoid burnout and excel at work. Whether you do yoga, run, or lift weights, physical activity provides a crucial break from work pressure and helps maintain a healthy work-life balance. 

Create a Positive Workspace

A positive workplace has a huge impact on your productivity. By simply creating an environment that supports your mental well-being and productivity, you can effectively reduce burnout. Incorporate elements like natural light, plants, ergonomic furniture, and personal touches that inspire and comfort you. A thoughtfully curated workspace has a significant impact on your mood, creativity, and overall work experience. 

Avoid Office Gossip

Workplace gossip often draws you in, and you’re tempted to listen in and participate. But don’t give in to the temptation; workplace gossip might be temporary entertainment, but it could become a permanent and serious problem, even more so when you’re a willing participant. It could land you in HR, putting your job at risk, especially when it’s against a specific employee.

More For You

Having a boss who constantly micromanages you can make you feel burnt out. If you feel controlled at work and unable to perform your duties freely, here are some signs you are being micromanaged and that it is affecting your performance.

This article was first published on the RB ITALIA Blog.