The 4 best ways to avoid burnout

Feeling burnt out? These tips will help you get back to the top of your game

People today are working so hard that burnout is on the tip of all our tongues -especially those of us who are students of exceptional performance or are exceptional performers ourselves.

Hard work has always been valued in our culture, but has made a strong comeback with the “hustle culture” promoted by personalities like Gary Vaynerchuk (who clearly leans on tip 3 and 4 btw).

The thing about hard work is that, like almost anything, it is a skill that people need to practice to become proficient. If you don’t master the skill of working hard then you’re going to flame out or burn out and people who are burnt out aren't going to inspire people with their performance.

If you have been feeling down about your job or are thinking about moving on or starting a new career, then you're probably burnt out.

Here are the best ways to deal with your burnout:

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Move on - this is one of the most obvious options, but depending on your life circumstances it can be very easy to do or very difficult to do. Personally I've transitioned into and out of careers several times in my young life because I treasure variety and the thrill of new challenges. As I've gotten older and gotten more responsibilities this has become a more measured process, but being stuck doing something I don't want to do is simply not a reality I'm willing to accept. If you’re going to make the decision to move on, you need to do so after you’ve really evaluated your values and your life blueprint, preferably with an awesome life coach.

Rest - This is another obvious option that is bizarrely tricky in a culture that values a work ethic that never rests. People in the corporate world live in this bizarre ambiguity where they are given massive amounts, even unlimited amounts, of vacation time, yet they can’t help but feel like people lose respect for them when they actually dare to take their vacation time. Individuals AND employers need to learn that rest isn’t something poor performers do, it is an essential part of  improving performance. The formula for almost all human progress is simple: stress + rest = progress. It holds true for everything from weight lifting to your job. Muscles aren’t built when you are lifting weights; they are built when you are resting. As our economy becomes more and more creative minded and service based, performance will be less than perfect if minds don’t get to disengage in a significant and meaningful way.

Work for something bigger than yourself - For all the negative discussions centered around millennials, I respect my generation for their desire for a career with purpose. Jobs aren’t good enough to get people  through burnout. Missions are. Savvy companies will constantly be reinforcing the “why” in their corporate mission. A small accounting firm isn’t just doing taxes, they are doing work that enables small business owners to live their dreams by handling a small part of that business for them. A financial planner isn’t investing money; they are securing a future for you and the generations of children you are leaving behind. If you get stuck in the day to day muck of your work or business, burnout is inevitable. If you connect with the deep and true impact of your work, you will feel invigorated.

On a personal level, your “why” might be slightly different. You may, in theory, strongly dislike your job, but if you’re thinking constantly about the Harvard education it will enable you to afford your child, you will be impervious to burnout. Working for selfish motivations will slow you down and make you less powerful and effective. Working for something bigger than yourself will make you stronger than you ever imagined capable. We’ve all heard the stories of the tiny mom who is suddenly able to lift a car when their child is stuck under it. Your body AND your mind can overcome anything when you do so in the service of something bigger than yourself. Connect to this whenever possible.

Mentor - I remember as a young man I worked for one of the most successful retailers in the world and they had a program where regular employees could become “mentors” to new employees or employees who were struggling. This wasn’t a pay bump and had no tangible benefits. In fact, it really just made you do more work for the same money, but despite that, it was one of the most coveted titles in the store. People wanted to be mentors so badly because it taps into our innate and very human  need for contribution. And research has even backed that up, showing us that mentoring significantly helps fight burnout.

So if you are feeling stagnant or burnt out, find a way to mentor. This could be something formal, or it could be as simple as helping people in a professional Facebook group. I find the more personal it is, the more effective it is. Meaning, coaching someone at your job is more rewarding than making YouTube videos where you don’t see or appreciate the 50 people who may be watching it.

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If you are an employer, build these tips into the fabric of your company and watch your productivity and happiness soar. If you’re an employee, start a dialogue with HR or the decision makers to start redefining your company culture and increasing productivity and improving the culture. Put the Peak Performance book (one of the easily readable books that greatly influenced a lot of my ideas on peak performance)  in your CEO’s hand and see if you can initiate change and understanding.

I once read in The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Zen Living that if you’re not happy doing something either don’t do it or make peace with why you’re doing it (zen was so appealing to me in my youth because of its simplicity)  and it sunk into my head and dictated how I view the nature of being “stuck” and burnt out. You don’t have to live frustrated and bored and these steps will certainly help you avoid the burnout that is plaguing our work world right now.

If you’re struggling with burn out, your company has a problem with burnout, or think you could do more, schedule your free coaching session with me and I will gladly help  transform your life for the better.

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