All work and no play makes a man what? Boring, maybe. Burned out, for sure. Even workaholics – perhaps especially them – will eventually reach a point wherein they just can’t function properly anymore because of an imbalance in their professional and personal lives. Before you even get there, why not take a little time to take stock of your situation and get out of the burn out lane?
First, identify what adds to your stress. There is always something – it can be work-related or familial. Whatever these things are, pinpoint them first so that you can find solutions.
Second, delegate tasks. If there are certain tasks that add to your stress, see if you can assign them to staff members whom you trust and who are skilled. If you have no staff members, then you might want to consider outsourcing certain tasks. This will certainly save you a lot of time AND stress.
Third, set aside time for yourself. Remember my last post? Taking a vacation can be good for your business and yourself. It does not even have to be a vacation; a little “me†time will do the trick. Say, on Friday afternoons you can go play basketball. Or maybe spend some time fishing. Whatever it is that helps you relax, make sure that it is part of your routine.
Fourth, keep yourself challenged. I have heard it said that sometimes, people get burned out because they’re bored. It may seem ironic, but if you think about it, it kind of makes sense. If you’re in this boat, then I suggest looking for something challenging, something new, to keep you on your toes.
Originally posted on August 31, 2009 @ 1:26 pm