Hello again,
Today’s reflection is how to deal with burn out. Many people suffer from this condition. It is especially apparent when a person is doing work they don’t generally enjoy. However, many people also suffer from burn out when they are doing something they love. This can be from a variety of reasons. Today I will talk about having burn out doing something you love and some tips on how to come back rejuvenated, refreshed, and ready for the next big project.
The most apparent reason why people burn out is because what they have been doing has become routine, hum-dum if you would say. The excitement that used to be always there has faded, and now people are left with the question ‘Should I even try? Or is it even worth doing?” The habits that were so carefully created so that we can do this creative work no longer motivate us to continue. Sometimes it seems that effort is more challenging then doing the task itself. So how can be arise and beat burnout? Read on to see my tips beating creative burn out.
- Remember your goals. What made you start doing your blog, book, studies, etc. What was your primary motivation? Just take a few moments and write down what your vision was. When you are done, see if your vision and goals have changed over time. This also can cause burn out and dissatisfaction with your present work. If your vision and goals have changed over time, write out a new vision and goals for your work. This will help you get inspiried and excited for what you are doing.
- Get out of your routine. Yes, yes I know, you always wrote at 7:00 pm, but switching up your routine will help you get new creative and innovative ideas. Sometimes life becomes too much routine, and when that happens even the most routine people out there start to get bored, every day is the same. I definatly can vouch for this one. I love my routine, and when I don’t have a routine or plan in place I feel out of sorts and lost. But on the other hand, I do the same thing each and every day. I too will have work on this tip so that I can feel excited and motivated to do the work I love, which is provide lovely materials for people to take the time to relax, have a tea hour.
- Get other people involved. Sometimes it is helpful to have close family members and friends to have a one-one to vent out and get your vision together. Yes, having a vision is nice, but day to day living can be very hard, demanding, and stressful. We all need to have some motivational talk from our family and friends. Not only will this help you feel refreshed, it will also make you more happy since you are spending time with people who truly care about your future and well-being
- Get out of your comfort zone and do something new. This is in the same vein as getting out of your routine. Sometimes we are just on autopilot and just do the next task without really thinking about it. So in order to get out of the burn out runt we must get out of our comfort zone, which for many of us is our routine, and shake it up and do something new. Perhaps it is going for a walk before breakfast, taking a train to work instead of driving, going to a new restaurant, shopping place, etc. Doing something new will energize you and make you more inspired to work and do what you need to do to achieve your dreams.
- Do something fun related or unrelated to your work. We get so wraped up in our work and side-work that we forget to have fun. So it is not surprising that we become burned out. We need to have fun and relaxation in our lives. So make it a habit if you are feeling unmotivated and uninspired to go somewhere fun by yourself or with family and friends, and leave all the teditous work, stress, routine behind.
- Have a vacation. My last and final tip is to actually take a vacation from your creative work. Sometimes we just need a mental and physical rest to come back relaxed and driven. If you haven’t taken a vacation in awhile and find yourself out of ideas, bored, or exhausted, make it a priority to take a week or two off. When you come back the things that were hard will not be so difficult and you will have more drive and energy to come up with new ideas and plans.
Well, that is all for my reflection and tips for dealing with burn out. It is a tragedy that we have become such a 24/7 society, that even taking a break or vacation is frowned upon. Not only will this attitude make burn out more likely, it also will make people who are already burned out less likely to see the treatment needed, and they will feel depressed and weary. Life is so much more than money and work, if only we choose to see it that way.
If you have any more suggestions about how to deal with any other type of burn out, let me know in the comments.
Have a great week,
Alyssa