LD Staff Writer
Burnout can become a downward spiral… You’re burned out so you avoid your work, feel guilty for avoiding work, so more negative feelings are associated with work… Making you more likely to continue avoiding work.
The typical advice for overcoming burnout is “take time off.” For some (most?) small business owners, that isn’t an option.
Yes, they’d much rather be vacationing in the Caribbean for a couple weeks, but they have responsibilities that can’t be neglected.
That doesn’t mean, however, that you should have to continually fight your lack of motivation and force yourself to move forward inch by inch. That will make you miserable and contribute to more burnout in the future.
Here is a three step burnout-busting process guaranteed* to get you back at the top of your game…
STEP 1: Imagine Motivation
This one may sound silly, but I used it religiously in college to find motivation to study for exam after exam. When I found myself dreading the idea of cracking the books, I’d simply imagine what it would feel like if I was motivated to study. I’d concentrate on conjuring that feeling, and within a minute or two, what do you know… I’d feel like studying!
This mind hack leverages the fact that it is difficult to imagine a feeling without actually feeling it. After imagining what it feels like to love work for a couple minutes, you should be able to easily move onto Step 2…
STEP 2: Read a Book That Gets You Juiced
I can only read “Blue Ocean Strategy” for about 15 minutes until my mind is reeling with ideas, and I can’t wait to jump up and start getting things done. You probably have a book like that too. Whatever that motivating title is for you, grab it off the shelf and read until you start to feel energized. Then force yourself to keep reading for a few more minutes… Until you can’t wait to hop up and get something done. Once you are there, don’t get back to work quite yet…
STEP 3: Take a “Working Break”
Rather than forcing yourself into doing the work you are dreading, search for something you can work on that inspires you or seems fun. Give yourself permission to postpone that work you’re avoiding. For some people, shifting from admin work to creative work will get them fired up.
For others, who are burned about by tight deadlines and hectic, stressful schedules, a few hours of mind-numbing data entry might do the trick. Whatever your case, try to find something you’d enjoy and dive in. By working well for a bit you’ll break free of inertia and find it easier to switch that energy and motivation to other work later.
Ready to get back to work?
* Not really guaranteed.
Related Articles:
- Learn How To Shift Your Life From Burnout to Balanced (prweb.com)
- Break Out of Your Routine to Avoid Burnout (iowabiz.com)
- Avoid burnout or risk becoming a dull person (theglobeandmail.com)
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