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Melting? 5 Steps to Prevent Burnout
Featured Author:
Shannon Hutton
Shannon Hutton, M.Ed., M.P.A. is a freelance writer, entrepreneur and owner of LinkBloom.com, a consultant firm that helps businesses grow online. She uses her experience and expertise in search engine optimization, affiliate marketing, link building, writing keyword content and website analysis to increase traffic and revenue for select businesses. Shannon applies these same customized business building strategies to promote her site, Playsational.com, where she provides coloring pages to print, easy crafts for kids and giveaways. This website blends both of Shannon’s passions: building an online business and providing fun activities to do with her four daughters!
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More articles from this author:
Shannon Hutton, M.Ed., M.P.A.
Working women often epitomize the expression “burning the candle at both ends.” This is due to the fact that the typical work day is not even close to 9 to 5. Not only because a lot of working women work overtime, but also because most working women juggle their work responsibilities with those of managing the household and caring for the children. As a result, working women often put themselves at risk for burnout.
So to curb this growing trend, here are five ways for working women to prevent burnout.
1. Leave Work on Time
I understand that leaving work on time is easier said than done, especially if you don’t have to rush to pick up children from a child care facility before they close. However, to prevent burnout, it is essential that working women limit the number of hours spent at the office. And while I know it’s tempting to stay later (and later) to get that one assignment finished or get “caught up,” the truth is that there will always be more work that needs to be done.
So set an end time to your work day at the office and stick to it! That pile in your inbox will still be there in the morning, but your motivation, effectiveness and positive morale won’t be if you keep working later and later. And like H. Jackson Brown said in his Life’s Little Instruction Book, “no one ever said on his deathbed, I wish I’d spent more time at the office.”
2. Leave Work at the Office
Now leaving work on time every day doesn’t count if you bring work home with you! Remember, there will always be items left on your to-do list at the end of the day, month, year, lifetime, but your kids won’t live at home forever, and a strong marriage takes time and effort. So leave the briefcase in the hall closet and spend some quality time with your family!
3. Delegate Tasks
For us Type-A control freaks, it is very difficult to delegate tasks because no one ever does it as well as us … right? Wrong. Okay … maybe that is right, but regardless, just because working women can do it all, doesn’t mean we should! It’s not healthy in the long run if we keep juggling all the balls without passing off a few. Start by delegating tasks you don’t like very much. For example, I’ve delegated housecleaning! While it pains me not to clean my own toilets (snicker, snicker), I’ve learned to get over the fact that my house isn’t as clean as it would be if I did it. The same approach can be taken with work tasks. If you’re in a position to delegate, do so. If not, reevaluate whether that task needs to be done at all.
4. Learn to Say No
What? Say no to people and risk having them think negatively about us? Yes!!! Like Oprah says, we need to get over our “disease to please.” And that means saying no to things we don’t want to do, but often do anyway out of obligation. Sometimes that also means saying no to things we like to do, but the time commitment is putting too much of a strain on our schedule.
5. Take Care of Yourself
Too often working women put the needs of everyone else before their own. I think it’s because many of us feel it is selfish or indulgent to spend time on ourselves. Or after handling everyone else’s needs first, there is just no time or energy left for us. However, this approach always results in burnout sooner or later. So to prevent burnout, devote time every week to caring for yourself. This could include getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, using a vacation day for yourself, going out with girlfriends or a date with your hubby. Whatever you choose to do, make it a priority each week! Don’t let it become a luxury — it is a necessity.
So while working women will continue to multitask, that’s all right as long as those tasks include taking time for yourself!
MPfennighaus
7 months ago
76 comments
Leaving work on time is so, so difficult for some people. But ultimately I think it makes co-workers respect and admire that you take care of yourself. You can't do a great job at work if you are totally burned out.
cfulghum37
7 months ago
418 comments
There are days when I have a hard time leaving work at work - If I have problems then I will discuss them with my husband. Or say I have had a bad day - he helps me to work thru to attempt to find a viable solution (if there is one).
I am also the main cook and often will quiz our homeschooled son in what he studied that particular day as well as do some housework before bed.
I do try to take time for myself - mostly when I take an extended shower and pamper myself with my sunless tanning lotion afterwards. I also tend to work word find puzzles to unwind.