We’ve all felt it, the soul-crushing exhaustion that isn’t so much physical as mental. Where you can’t do one more thing at work, even though you love your job, and even whatever reward system you have in place isn’t enough to get you moving again.When you have to teach your children yourself or manage their online learning; while meeting the needs of your job while working at home can be challenging.
That is burnout, and it hits all of us at some time or another. Today is Monday and we are back to the unfamiliar rat race of working at home.How can you avoid this dreaded quicksand trying to suck you down and keep you from being productive? It’s all in staying motivated. Yes I said it. We have to stay motivated.Being a person who has to manage a chronic health condition, I find myself having to self motivate all the time. I wanted to share some of my tips with you on how I stay motivated. Thankfully there are several ways to do just that. Mental health is key so let me know what you do to stay motivated in tough times.
1. Take breaks during the day. You can’t keep going endlessly without breaking down. Every now and again, it’s good to lift your head and take a look at the world around you. So get up, grab a drink of water, move around a little. I’ve been trying to drink hot water with lemon which is quite refreshing. How do you know when to stop? Pause the moment you feel your energy flagging, and before you get so drawn into the doldrums that you lose your motivation to move around. My rule is to stand and move around once every hour. It helps to keep the stiffness in the joints down.
2. Get rid of your devices. There’s nothing quite so de-motivational as the digital age. The problem with being connected is that people can reach you anywhere, anytime. That means you never quite leave the office, and by extension, you’re never really not working. A ringing phone is a request to be acknowledged. You will have to prioritize who to answer or respond to. Another tip is to limit checking your work email outside of work, and refuse to discuss business outside of normal business hours unless it’s an emergency. This break is necessary for optimal health of both body and mind. You must have realistic boundaries.
3. Take weekends off. Again, with the world so connected over the internet, and everyone working at home, it’s just too easy to keep working, even when you’re supposed to be spending time with the family. Embrace your downtime and give your work a rest. Having the weekend off will leave you more motivated on Monday and ready to tackle another week of work.
4. Ask yourself why it matters. If you’re feeling a little burned out, it’s time to remind yourself why you do the things you do anyway. Why were you so passionate about this job/project? Recapture this feeling, and your motivation will come flooding back. Sometimes we do what we do, because we are committed to those that we serve. But remember if you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t have anything left to share with others.
5. Just what kinds of breaks do you have? If all you do on your downtime is watch Netflix, chances are you aren’t stimulating your mind. That leads to a further boredom/malaise that’s even harder to shake. When you have the weekend off, give yourself something to do that engages you physically and mentally. Exercise, play a sport, go outside if possible, visit a museum when the social isolation has been relaxed. Stimulate the senses. You’ll be surprised at the motivation that comes from trying something new.
6. Check your health. If the feelings of fatigue persist, a check-up might be in order. It could be that it isn’t burnout at all – but instead, you might be fighting a bug or be a little low on some essential vitamin. I make sure to stay on top of my medical appointments to catch issues early.
7. Find a different job. If you’re constantly burned out, then it’s possibly time to find something new to do. Take some time to reassess why you do what you do, and whether you’re as passionate about it as you used to be. If you are unable to change what you do. You may be able to negotiate the way that you do your job
Avoiding burnout is possible, but it means listening to your body and mind. Breaks are not only a good idea; they’re integral to good health. Remember, staying motivated means taking care of yourself on every level.
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Be Encouraged, Be Inspired, Be Hopeful
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The Possibilities Are Endless
If you need support in sorting things out, schedule an 15 min express coaching session at CrohnsInterrupted.com.
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