Work burnout can affect any of us if we set aside too little time to rest and relax. Yet, as long as you know how to deal with it, it won’t stop you from being successful.
Sometimes it seems that the rich and successful among us are free from the struggle of burnout. How can somebody with billions in the bank and luxury properties in Barbados, Bali and Bangkok possible have stress in their lives?
“Stress and business go hand-in-hand,” Virgin founder Richard Branson once said. “But too much pressure can be emotionally and physically damaging.”
It’s easy to forget that these inspiring entrepreneurs have worked hard for their fortunes.
With the weight of billions in shareholder money on their shoulders, thousands of employees to manage and the scrutiny of the press and public, successful people are just as likely to suffer from burnout as anybody else. They simply know how to deal with it better.
How successful entrepreneurs deal with work burnout
It’s easy to get caught up in our work. We spend close to 40% of our day at work. Unsurprisingly, it is hard to turn our attention away from our jobs once it’s time to clock out.
However, finding the right balance between our working and personal lives is vital to staying sane in the workplace. These three tips will help you to avoid work burnout:
Sleep well
Getting enough sleep at night is vital to staying both physically and mentally healthy. Six out of 10 people get less than the recommended seven hours of sleep. As a result, we have less energy during the day and our mental capacity is reduced. Getting a good night’s sleep will help to reduce the stress that builds up throughout the day.
Disconnect
Even when we leave the office, we’re still in constant contact with our colleagues and clients. New technologies have made it almost impossible to disconnect from work, with emails sent straight to our phones. Just because you can, don’t feel obligated to perform work duties out of hours.
Say no
Humans are people pleasers. We like to make our peers happy and we love to impress others even more. Yet, in doing so, we often neglect our own happiness and well-being. According to Microsoft founder Bill Gates, the best way to beat burnout is to learn how to say no to people’s requests, leaving time for you to do the things that you want and need to do.
Read more:
Sleep deprivation effects leadership, and other parts of your life