Here Are The Top 8 Ways to Prevent Burnout

Author

Justin Mecham
March 25, 2024

Hey Full Potential Zoners!

Burnout is very real.

In fact, 77% are burned out according to Hubstaff.

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Everyone has a lot going on outside of work.

We often envision work-life balance as an equal split between our careers and personal lives.

Yet, the reality for many is a work-dominated life.

Where personal time is squeezed in here and there.

Today we are going to help leaders help their teams find work-life balances that work best for them using:

‘The 8 Steps for Work-Life Balance'. 

Let’s dive in!

  1. Foster Team Autonomy

    • Empower your team to make their own decisions.

    • Trust them to manage their workload and time.

  2. Recognize and Reward

    • Acknowledge the hard work and achievements of your team.

    • Use rewards that promote work-life balance, like extra days off.

  3. Create a Supportive Culture

    • Cultivate an environment where team members feel safe to express concerns.

    • Encourage everyone to support each other's work-life balance.

  4. Promote Flexibility

    • Offer flexible work arrangements.

    • Example: personal commitments and family needs.

  5. Support Wellness

    • Educate employees on available benefits for help.

    • Encourage them to use them.

  6. Regular Check-Ins

    • Have open conversations with your team.

    • Discuss workload and stress levels for prevention.

  7. Lead by Example

    • Demonstrate work-life balance in your own life.

    • Set a precedent for your team.

  8. Encourage Unplugging

    • Remind your team to disconnect from work.

    • During their off-hours and time off.

    • Leaders - ONLY send emails/messages during work hours.

Set a Good Example

My team was under significant stress due to a high-profile project with a tight deadline.

This led to extended work hours, with some team members skipping breaks and even working weekends.

Morale was low, and signs of burnout were beginning to surface.

I decided to intervene by setting a good example.

I began by strictly adhering to regular work hours myself.

Ensuring I logged off on time and encouraged the team to do the same.

I stopped sending emails/text messages/app messages outside of normal work hours.

I made it a point to take regular breaks during the day and openly discussed the importance of rest and rejuvenation for creativity and efficiency.

I also started sharing snippets of how I spent my time off, whether it was a new hobby I picked up or a small trip I took over the weekend.

Subtly encouraging the team to find their own work-life balance.

By implementing these changes and consistently adhering to them, the team gradually adopted a healthier approach to their work.

The team’s quality improved, and they became more cohesive and supportive of each other.

This demonstrated the profound impact of leading by example has in fostering a positive work environment.

Here's how you can make it real over the next 4 days:

Day 1: Reflection and Planning

  • Choose one of the 8 Steps you want to work on this week.

  • Take 15 minutes to reflect on how this step currently fits into your daily routine.

  • Ask yourself what changes you'd like to see and jot down a simple plan to incorporate this step more effectively into your life.

    • ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "I've chosen [Your Step] as my focus for improving work-life balance. Guide me through a 15-minute reflection exercise to evaluate how this step currently fits into my daily life and help me draft a simple plan to incorporate it more effectively.”

Day 2: Small Action, Big Intent

  • Identify one small action you can take today that aligns with your chosen step.

  • For example, if you're focusing on "Encourage Unplugging," your action might be to avoid checking work emails after a certain hour.

    • ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "Based on my focus on [Your Step], what's one small, actionable step I can take today to align more closely with this principle? I'm looking for something simple but impactful that can help me progress towards better work-life balance."

Day 3: Share and Engage

  • Share your chosen step and the action you've been taking with a friend, family member, or colleague.

  • Discussing your efforts can provide motivation and accountability.

  • Plus, you might inspire them to join you in the challenge!

    • ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "I want to share my work-life balance journey, focusing on [Your Step], with someone today. How can I explain the importance of this step and my actions in a concise and engaging way that might inspire them to reflect on their own work-life balance?"

Day 4: Reflect and Adjust

  • Reflect on the past three days.

  • How has focusing on this lesson impacted your daily routine and overall well-being?

  • Consider any adjustments you might need to make to better integrate this lesson into your life moving forward.

    • ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "I've been working on [Your Step] for a few days now. Help me structure a reflection on the changes I've noticed in my daily routine and overall well-being. I also need guidance on how to adjust my approach to better integrate this lesson moving forward."

Remember to never get so absorbed in making a living that you forget to make a life that resonates deeply.

It's a call to prioritize life's meaningful moments over the perpetual hustle.

Ensuring that your pursuit of success doesn't eclipse the richness of living.

Productivity thrives where balance lives.

Until next week and with lots of love,

Justin

This Week’s Growth Recommendations

Book To Read:  

"Off Balance: Getting Beyond the Work-Life Balance Myth to Personal and Professional Satisfaction" by Matthew Kelly.

Learn more about the book HERE.  

TED Talk to Watch

"How to Make Work-life Balance Work" by Nigel Marsh

Watch TED Talk HERE.

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