Getting burned out at work or school is a phenomenon most people are intimately familiar with. Burn out often comes on the heels of a particularly stressful time, such as after final exams in school or a series of important deadlines at work. Getting burned out can be damaging to your performance at school or work, particularly if it comes at a time when you are unable to handle its symptoms: being unmotivated to work and unable to concentrate, getting easily frustrated or upset, and feeling constantly tired. Because burn out can be so detrimental to your grades and your career path, it is important to take steps to prevent burn out - before it gets to this point.
Because burn out is often caused by too much stress over too long a period of time, it makes sense to attempt to manage your stress in order to prevent burn out. Although this may seem a difficult – if not impossible – task, you can maintain control over your stress by introducing a few simple habits into your life. Although these habits take little effort to establish, they will go a long way in helping you prevent burn out.
The first and most important habit that you must practice in order to prevent burning out is to prevent overworking yourself. Although this may seem to be common sense, many people find themselves pressured into working long days, taking work home with them, and otherwise allowing work to rule their lives. Trying to avoid accepting more work than you can handle is a major factor in your ability in preventing burn out at work.
Another way to prevent burning out at work is to take your breaks. Employment law guarantees you protection from being forced to work long hours with no breaks; take advantage of your rights! Taking the occasional break, if only to go to the bathroom, get a cup of coffee, or take a walk around the office, prevents the buildup of stress, helping in turn to prevent feelings of burn out.
Taking vacations and personal time can also help you prevent burn out at work. A vacation does not have to be a trip to an exotic island every time – just a few days away, to give yourself a chance to blow off a steam. “Playing hooky” from time to time and taking a personal day away from work can also help prevent burn out, by allowing you an unexpected opportunity to relax.
Of course, enjoying your job will also go a long way towards preventing burn out at work. After all, any dislike you feel for your job will greatly amplify your stress when you have to perform the work every single day. Entering a career you are happy with should be more than just a dream; it should be a step that you take to avoid getting burnt out at work – and in life. Society is constantly becoming more aware of the huge impact that stress has on the human body. Therefore, it is vital to prevent burn out at work – not just for your overall happiness, but also for your physical and mental health.
