|
|  |
Bigger. Better. Faster. Fewer Ulcers.
205 hits
| Mar 11, 2004 4:53 pm |
|
re: Reigniting a burned out flame...... |
Myra71
| |
Matt,
What I do when I'm burned out is renew myself. I know this is girly but I take hot bath and sip my favorite wine, read a good book, journal etc. I do anything but my burn out issue. Sometimes if I have the option, I'll delegate that part of the work to someone else.
I have also gone over my outside activities and learned the word NO. Sometimes I would burn out on the things I love and couldn't figure out why. It was the things I hated that were bringing me down. I was on PTA but dreaded the meetings. I volunteered at church because it was what I SHOULD do and I got discounted fees on my kids activities there. I had all these concepts in my head called "SHOULDS". I finally got rid of that thinking. I'm not the SAHM who can serve on the PTA. I join, I pay my $10 and attend my children's programs. THAT IS IT! I now found a church I TRULY enjoy and go. Now I don't mind planning events for my church small group and I'm still serving others. I help out ocassionally instead of everyday. I do what I can when I can and when I want to. I removed my "SUCKER" sticker I had plastered all over me and if people ask if I can help then I give them an honest answer. If I have to think about it then the answer is no. I know what I like to do and not do. I know my schedule. I know if it will or will not fit. I love planning and I love creating.
Look at all aspects of your life and are there tasks you absolutely dread? Whether its house cleaning, yard work, civic group activities, business group activities. NO matter what it is look at it and say "What am I getting out of this? Does this TRULY make me happy? To know the answer become more aware of yourself and your body when you attend civic/business group meetings. Are you looking at your clock thinking "get me the heck out of here" or are you smiling and hanging afterwards dreading going home. Are you doodling a list of things to do in the middle of a meeting or are you making notes of what's going on? If you are thinking "get me the heck out of here" and thinking of other things then maybe you need to re-evaluate your participation. As for the house chores, yard work, etc. Hire it out if you don't like it!!! To me it is worth $40 a month to pay someone to cut my yard because it drains me to do it. If I'm drained I'm not productive and get BURNED OUT and my family suffers! If I'm really burned out with work, then I'll hire someone to come in and clean my house for me. Its usually once or twice a year (generally mother's day and christmas time).
What I did is for a month I noted everything I did (yard work, meetings, projects, etc) on the calendar and after the event I put a smiley face or frown. Then the next month I went back and found a way to handle the frowns. Whether that was removing myself from a board, a civic group, or a business group. Sometimes it was just my position, sometimes it was the group, sometimes it was the task. But I figured it out and made a plan to solve the problem.
I have even quit offering certain services in my VA practice so that I can give my clients 100%. I farm out what I don't like to other VAs and keep what I do like to do. I'm fortunate to have the luxury to do that. My clients appreciate it because they know they will get my best because I've been honest with them and said "no, i don't do that".
But to totally refresh myself and get over burn out I talk to my friends and certain family members. They always talk me through whatever I'm going through. It is nice to have a support system that listens! Sometimes I go to lunch with friends so I can get away from my home office. One thing I've learned is to always take lunch. I don't work through lunch anymore unless its the week of an event or deadline (i do event planning and office support) and then I give myself a day off to recover after that event or deadline has passed. I'll go play a round of golf, go for a hike alone or with a friend, spend time with my kids or something that will rejuvenate me.
You have to get a hobby that is not work related! That is SO important. And everything everyone else said hold true as well.
I hope this helps and good luck. If you ever to talk through something or just need a friend, feel free to PM me.
Myra Medina
Virtual Assistant Private Reply to Myra71 (new win) |
|
