I just read an article about someone’s totally bogus opinion of “job burnout.” It made me realize that some people actually are (or think they are) “burned-out.”
A quick search on Amazon revealed 580 books that contain the title, or address the subject of, “job burnout.” Yikes!
The article I read proposed a remedy of “do less and you’ll avoid burnout.” It also recommended avoiding excessive workloads, not to be overly accommodating, avoiding people who drain your energy, not to overwork yourself, and they threw in job disillusionment. In other words: You’ll still hate it, but you’ll hate it less.
Why do people claim they’re burned-out? It’s a self-inflicted thought based on taking inappropriate action, the false feeling of being overwhelmed and stressed-out, having a negative work atmosphere in general, not really loving your job, not believing in what you do, and having a boss who is somewhere between a jackass and an idiot.
While burnout and stress are real, often they’re self-imposed feelings that you can overcome. Burnout manifests itself in your daily talk until it’s embedded into your psyche. Not good.
Begin your self-actualization by asking reality-based questions of yourself. Write down the answers.
Ask yourself how much you love your job, what’s the best part of your job, what would you rather be doing, where would you rather be working that could afford you the same or better opportunity (not just money), and if the grass is really greener on the other side of employment.
Being or feeling “burned-out” or “stressed-out” is not a problem — it’s a symptom. Why you feel you’re burned-out is the heart of the situation.
Once you ask yourself these questions, it’s time to do something positive about it. Relief begins when you identify the cause, and then continues when you create your own answers and your own truths. And change your thought pattern from burnt-out to on fire.
Write down what you believe is causing the stressful feelings, what you believe the remedy could be, what you or others could be doing, the likelihood of these remedies occurring, your ideal job or career, and what you have to do or learn to get there.
Decide if you are in or out. If in, rededicate yourself to personal excellence. If out, get out quick.
Based on your present situation (family, debt, obligations), you may just have to endure it for a while, but if you have identified causes and remedies, calm begins to occur. You have it under control. You’re making decisions.
Your present circumstance has to be measured against your present situation and future hopes and dreams.
Here are a few suggestions for what will take you from burnout mode into a more positive and hopeful frame of mind:
1. Start your day with the three most important things you want to accomplish.
2. Cancel all stupid and time-wasting meetings.
3. Stop talking about things that don’t matter, especially other people.
4. Focus on outcome, not just task.
5. Dedicate at least 15 minutes a day to thinking by yourself.
6. Get rid of three major time wasters:
• Facebook notifications at work (unless it’s a business Facebook)
• Personal emails and personal calls
• Negative water fountain chitchat
7. Go home from work and read instead of watch.
7.5. Review your accomplishments at the end of each day to both praise and challenge yourself. Write them down.
Restart your personal fire. Give yourself a chance to become best at your job and your career. Never give in to self-defeat. Decide every day that you can only be your best by doing your best.
Become best, not burnt.
Gitomer is the author of "The Sales Bible" and "The Little Red Book of Selling." President of Charlotte-based Buy Gitomer, he gives seminars, runs annual sales meetings, and conducts Internet training programs on selling and customer service at trainone.com. He can be reached at salesman@gitomer.com.
Press ESC | Close [X]
