Productivity Hack #12: Circumvent Burnout

“Burnout is nature’s way of telling you, you’ve been going through the motions your soul has departed; you’re a zombie, a member of the walking dead, a sleepwalker. False optimism is like administrating stimulants to an exhausted nervous system.”
~ Sam Keen

Post written by Kevin Tyler Smith. Connect with me on Twitter. I always enjoy meeting new people.

There is very little that can cause a decrease in productivity as easily as burnout.  While you may be tempted to believe that putting every waking moment into working on a task(s) is a good way to get things done, there is an additional factor which you may not have considered.

When you figuratively carry a task around with you, burnout has an increased chance of taking hold resulting in much less being accomplished in the long-run. This form of carrying around a task does not involve doing some essential work during your free time.  It involves keeping your “to-do” list on your mind during your free hours. Keeping your assignment as your main focus everywhere you go can easily burn you out.

I think it is inherent to human nature to concern oneself with whether you will get something done on time or the overall quality of your work. But you also have to understand keeping a task as your main focus constantly can have negative consequences. Becoming overly stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed is definitely in the offing.

Artful Circumvention

Before burnout becomes a full scale breakdown, here are a six pragmatic ways to get around it to keep your life and your resulting productivity in balance:

1. Start the day with a relaxing routine – instead of rushing into your day as soon as you wake up take at least 10 to 15 minutes meditating, journaling, stretching or reading something inspiring.
2. Assume healthy habits – with the proper diet, physical activity and rest you will develop the clarity, stamina and resiliency to handle the demands of the day.
3. Start saying “no” – establish realistic boundaries and don’t overextend yourself. Be mindful of the requests on your time. Discerning the timely “no” will free up time to say “yes” to the things you really want to do.
4. Abscond from technology – set aside time each day where you completely become unplugged. Walk away from the laptop, turn off the cell phone and stop checking your email. Sometimes you have to disconnect to become connected.
5. Nurture the creative in you – select an activity or fun project that is no way related to work. Start a new hobby or revive an old one. Creativity is a fantastic way to combat burnout.
6. Learn stress management – burnout opens the floodgates to stress. When you learn how to manage stress, half the battle is won.

When you have begun to develop these habits, you will be more motivated, more energetic, more balanced and ultimately more productive.

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See Also – Productivity Hack:

#1: Set A Game Plan

#2: Reduce Distractions

#3: Large Projects First

#4: Self-Discipline

#5: Doing The Impossible

#6: Increasing Motivation

#7: Take Setbacks In Stride

#8: Be Goal Oriented

#9: Mindful Care For Self

#10: Get Organized

#11: Positive Delegation

Editor’s note: Zen To Done is one of the best resources I’ve ever seen in regards to cultivating productivity. If you want a concise “nuts and bolts” system on structuring your “to do” list, look  no further than Zen To Done.

Disclaimer: I will only ever recommend products I have used or own personally. Trust is a hard thing to build (especially online) and I wouldn’t break it by putting my name behind something that I don’t believe in.

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