Recognizing the Start of Burnout

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​It's Sunday morning, and that means I'm going to be entirely off the tracks from business and marketing. That's what Sunday morning posts are all about. 

On Friday, Chamira Young and I recorded our first Beyond Technique podcast for the new year, and instead of a guest, we riffed for forty-five minutes sharing twenty-nine ideas to help you kick off the new year. One of those was the importance of recognizing burnout.

I do my best to walk the talk, but there are times when I don't realize the toll, stress is taking on me, my relationship with my family, and my own skillset. I get overly focused - obsessed with deadlines, projects, and work. I find myself dreaming that I'm working - nothing worse than waking up after feeling like you worked all night. 

So, I hit what "This is Calmer" refers to as Stage 2 of burnout and the start of symptoms. I don't want to turn this into more than just a blog post, but here are the symptoms for this initial stage. 

Look, it's not rocket science. We all have stressful days, and if we worried about each symptom, we're a society of burnouts! The great thing about being in tune with stress is the ability we all have to turn it around when we start to feel those physical and emotional aches and pains.

Last week was one of the busiest I can remember, and I missed a couple of posts, not to mention appointments and calls. I was on overload from the minute the "bell" went off on Monday morning. So, by Friday night, I was fried. Yesterday was what Sheila and I call a slug day, and most of today will be the same. I need to recharge.

And there's my point - whatever time you need, and everyone is different - remember to recharge your battery. Take the time to step away from the business. Spend time with those people most special to you, phone a friend, read something besides email or articles related to business. Take a walk, with or without a camera. In other words, just play! Everyone is different in what they need and how long they need for a break.  

It's a lot easier to avoid burnout than beat it once it's got hold! It all starts with focusing your energy on you rather than everything that's your responsibility.

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Sometimes in life, we become so focused on the finish line that we fail to find joy in the journey!
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Wishing all of you a day filled with joy. That sounds really sappy, but enjoy the journey and especially the people you love most who are walking that same path with you! As always, hit those eleven-second hugs with the people you care about and make it a day to smile.

Happy Sunday! (or Monday if you're on the other side of the world.)