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Sometimes, the stress and pressure of your job can really take its toll on you. When that happens, you might be in danger of suffering from burnout—that over-fatigued, over-worked state of mind, body, and soul. Bounce back from the burnout blues with these tips.
Don’t be irrational. You might be tempted to quit ASAP, but you need to make decisions with a clearer head. So, take a deep breath before taking action and planning your next steps. If you do need to vent, ask a friend or a trusted colleague to hear you out and give his or her objective opinion. The bottom line is to avoid making rash decisions while you’re still upset.
Take some time off. File for a leave—get Friday and Monday off for a long weekend; or if you’re up to it, take a whole week off! Sometimes you just need to detach yourself from the office itself to recharge and appreciate being away from its inherent chaos. With the change of pace and scenery (even if it’s just your own room!), you’ll find the energy and enthusiasm to work again. More often than not, burnout is caused by an overdose of routine, and taking a break is one way to prevent it from worsening.
Remember why you took the job in the first place. Once you have time to yourself, reminisce on what made you so excited about your job, why you decided to take the offer, what made you stay: Was it because of the benefits, the potential of career growth, the friends you’ve made along the way, the atmosphere of teamwork? Think it over and assess if you still want to keep your job.
Plan your plan B. If your current position is boring you to death, but you still want to remain in your company, figure out your options within the workplace. Perhaps you can ask your boss to give you additional duties and delegate some of your old ones to another co-worker, or you can inquire about a transfer. Don’t be scared to tackle or ask for change; embrace it and just go for it!
Have a life outside of work. Remember: Your work is not your life. Nurture a hobby you like (such as pottery, painting, writing short stories or poems), volunteer for a cause, exercise regularly, meet up with non-office friends for a monthly catchly—as do non-work-related stuff on a regular basis, you won’t feel stuck about work.
Signs of burnout: