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Email ThisThe sad truth about working hard is that it sometimes leads to burn out. Once bosses and coworkers see that you’re eager to change the world and willing to work extra hours to do it, some will exploit that eagerness by making outrageous requests (of course you’ll happily race across town at midnight to the only 24-hour FedEx drop box in the county) and generally piling on the work. Sometimes burn out is self-inflicted. Here are some ways to avoid it.
1. Change Yes to No. Learning to say no is one of the hardest things for a type-A person to learn. But if you always agree to everything everyone asks you to do, you won’t gain respect. Instead, you’ll be that person who has to stay in the office to finish busy work while everyone else is at happy hour schmoozing with upper-management. Guess who actually gets noticed? Unfortunately, it’s not the person who’s slaving away on her computer. Doing favors for your coworkers is fine, but if it’s cutting into your real work and you sense that it’s not a two-way street, it’s time to put your foot down (or ask your boss to help you prioritize).
2. Change departments, offices, or projects. Employee rotational programs have variety built-in. Even if you’re not in one of these programs, you might still be able to request a change. Say someone left the company, and there’s an open cube next to a window. Ask if you can switch! Or maybe there’s a vacancy in their other office location, and you’ll be able to gain a broader understanding of the organization’s structure. Be sure to stress how this will benefit your employer, too.
3. Change your commute. If you can’t get a change of scenery during the work day, you can at least change how you get to work. Try leaving ten minutes earlier so you won’t feel as rushed or take a different route so you’ll get a different view. If you normally ride the subway, then get off a stop or two early and walk the rest of the way. If you normally drive, then ask one of your coworkers to carpool with you. Or, if you live close enough to your office, swap your car for a bike so you’ll fit in more exercise. By changing your commute, you might discover a new coffee shop or find that there’s less traffic earlier in the day.
4. Change how you eat your lunch. Three quarters of American workers (including yours truly) eat their lunches at their desk at least a few times a week. It’s tempting to stay put when you’re absorbed in a project or if it feels like everyone else is putting in that extra face time. But trust me, you’ll feel better after you take a few minutes away from your computer. Meet a friend at that new sushi spot down the street, or sit outside with your lunch and some light reading material (those marketing briefs can wait). Better yet, hit the gym, and you’ll feel relaxed and refreshed for the rest of the afternoon.
5. Change your mind. Taking a class or attending a professional event can stimulate your mind, and you can then remember you why you’re in your chosen industry. Talking to people who are really passionate about what they do can help reignite your own passion. If that doesn’t work, then maybe it’s time to do some soul-searching and find something that’s a better fit for you.
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Great post Susan. I’m sure you could list more than 5 things if you really wanted to.
Your #1 on the list above goes to time management and priority setting. You have to set aside time to network and time for yourself to prevent burnout.
Nice Post. It seems like a lot of young professionals clamor to be “yes men” when really they ought to be pragmatic men. Taking on what one can handle, maybe a teeny bit more, is enough to fulfill one’s sense of accomplishments, and allows for higher quality of work.
One thing I would add, is to find a method for relaxation each day. I suppose that might fall under “Change Your Mind.” But I think being able to step out of the yuppie mode, if only for fifteen or twenty minutes each day is a key to staying sane in an otherwise overwhelming world.
I think the main challenge for younger workers is to see the fine line between working hard to GAIN respect and always offering to take on more work, which may, as you note, lead to losing respect.
When you first arrive in a new workplace, I believe that it is important to ramp it up a notch to demonstrate your value and worth. If you can “work smart, not hard” and still demonstrate your value, you are lucky. Until there is a real shift in the workplace (not just a rhetorical shift), working hard still stands out. That might mean saying YES more than no, at least in the beginning.
Miriam Salpeter
Keppie Careers
Everyone has great points to add!
@Miriam: you’re correct that you can’t start a new job and immediately refuse to take on any responsibility. But if you let coworkers take advantage of you with “favors” early on and establish yourself as someone who’s over-eager to please, then that can set a bad precedent for your time there.
Susan those are great tips! I especially agree with the lunch one. The federal law about lunch breaks is there for a reason! Plus I think stepping away for even a half hour helps to freshen your ideas and creativity too.
I love tip 3. Certainly the longer the commute, the more ways to change it, but it’s a great tip. I drive to work a different way than I drive home and I enjoy the break in monotony.
Susan -
Great post and right on the money. #1 is the most important. It’s great to have energy, drive and the push to get things done. The tough part is NOT becoming an instrument for someone else. Respect yourself and your time. Helping is great but at some point you have to learn to be somewhat selfish with your time. If all your time is going for others when will you have time to develop and advance yourself?
Variety is essential in life, especially the little things. Change what you can control to see a different slice of life. Discover as much as you can - you may use your new knowledge some day!
Hi Susan,
This is very timely for me. I’m trying to learn how to keep a balance between working hard and knowing when to relax too. Thanks for the tips.
Good lord, it’s hard to say no, isn’t it? Especially when you’re still exploring the parameters of your freelance career, and any project that comes your way seems a necessary thing. But saying no is so necessary. It’s a stress reducer, and a productivity boost.
Great post!
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