Think about it: you approached your job with dedication and enthusiasm. You were passionate about work and eager to fulfill your responsibilities. After a few months, however, you began to feel a sense of stagnation. Pressures got you feeling exhausted and drained. You lost all motivation to work and the interest to interact with your co-workers. You started to hate yourself and everyone around you.
You may think you’re depressed, but you might be dealing with a whole different problem—burnout. Burnout is a chronic state of mental and physical exhaustion. According to a U.S. study, many millennial women experience job burnout before even reaching the age of 30. In the Philippines, the average threshold of an employee is three years, where 65% resign before or when they reach that point. Job burnout leaves you feeling drained and exhausted to the point where you’re unable to cope with simple tasks. Left unchecked, it could affect your productivity levels and result in a decline in your job performance.
If you think you’re experiencing job burnout, here are a few ways to overcome it, reconnect with your passion, and restore a positive job attitude:
Stop Discouraging Yourself
Burnout occurs when people feel undervalued by others, but more so when they undermine themselves. Take a break; spend some time revisiting your goals and aspirations. Think about the reasons you entered your job in the first place and determine how your current roles make an impact. Sometimes, all you have to do is take a step back, remind yourself of your contributions—whether big or small—and recommit yourself to your mission in order to rekindle your passion for work.
Live One Day at a Time
Many people, not just women, have the workday ahead of them as their first thought in the morning. This isn’t the best way to begin the day, however. Instead of heading straight to the office, spend half an hour relaxing. Take a morning jog, work out, or read a newspaper while sipping a hot cup of coffee. These simple things can set you up for the day and prepare you for anything that may come your way.
Switch Off
If you think being the last person to leave the office every day makes you a corporate superhero, think again. It will endanger your health before you even receive the promotion you long hoped for. Work is important, but it’s only one part of your life. Learn to turn your “work switch” off at the end of each day and let yourself rest and refuel.
Do Something You Love
Do something you love, something that inspires you to get up in the morning. Schedule a vacation, start a new hobby, or take an evening class. You can also be more active with sports. Spend some time with your family or girlfriends, or try doing old things in new ways.
The longer you wait to address the problem, the more likely you’ll get affected by it. If you feel you’re suffering from job burnout, act on it immediately. Take the steps to reconnect with your goals and rekindle your passion for work.