It’s happening again. You wake up to your daily alarm and click on snooze at least twice before you force yourself out of bed. You are feeling depleted, overwhelmed and perhaps not so excited about the day ahead.
In a world where an endless to-do list is a common occurrence, workdays seem to be constantly demanding, and you’re faced with social and domestic expectations, you might feel a sense of guilt and as if you’re not doing enough. Or, perhaps you feel a bit of resentment for doing too much, you feel constantly rushed or you feel a sense of dread that you carry in silence.
In their book Immunity to Change, authors Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey discussed how the complexity of modern life has surpassed our mental capabilities. We feel drained, yet we push forward, trying to be on top of work and life.
You might be asking yourself: Am I losing control? Am I mismanaging my time and stress? Am I clear on my priorities? Is my manager unaware of my workload? Why is my to-do list getting bigger by the hour? And the questions keep inviting more questions.
This scenario seems to be common in gobs of workplaces. About half of healthcare workers, for example, reported feelings of burnout, which can stem from heavy workloads and understaffing, among other issues. Beyond healthcare, research has found that more than half of workers who have stayed at their jobs during the Great Resignation have had to take on larger workloads, and some are fearing a “Great Burnout.”
Still, many work communities overlook the fact that employees are not feeling OK. Burnout can impact the employee’s personal health, as well as their motivation and productivity levels. I’ve found many managers mistakenly associate a sense of overwhelm and burnout with a lack of loyalty, interest or caring. The winner in these instances is no one.
What I am sharing is not new. What I propose is that we each tackle one tiny piece to conquer the beast. Instead of constant worry, perhaps leaders could find ways to bring more peace into their lives, their relationships and their challenges at work. Perhaps you can do your due diligence so others feel at peace in your presence. Perhaps you could begin to find peace within.
So, how can you do that?
Stress is a normal biological feeling and is built in our DNA. It is often the result of external factors and/or a demanding lifestyle. For example, feelings of stress could be activated due to increased expectations at home and work. For many Americans, work is a main source of stress.
To have a productive life that does not put you at the risk of burnout, these steps might help:
1. Paint a big-picture view.
Bring your purpose into your awareness on daily basis. Dedicate time each morning to set your intention for the day. Take time to pause and reflect on what is important amid all the rush. Bring into your awareness the “so what?” and write down why it is important that you do what you intend to do. Elevate your why so you connect what you do to a clear purpose. Find meaning amid the fog. It is easy to get trapped in the maze of endless meetings. Reclaim your need to prioritize and focus on what is important.
2. Clarify your boundaries.
Set your intention to focus on what you control. List everything you are concerned about—everything—and then highlight what is in your control. Make a sincere commitment to let go of what is not in your control. Each day, decide where you want to spend your energy.
3. Recharge.
Recharging is essential to your well-being. Make it your priority. Schedule time out on the calendar for being, not doing. Take a day off from time to time to recharge and reconnect to work without being at risk of burnout.
When I recharge, I reflect on what I value. How can I spend more time on those things? If my daughter is going to college and this is her last summer with us, how can I replenish my energy by spending time with her? We all do things that make sense to us. If I want to spend more time with my family, but I am completely depleted by Friday, what can I intentionally do to replenish my energy and find my mojo in the things I care for the most? How can you do the same?
4. Keep it simple.
If you have a huge list of to-dos, pick three things to focus on for today—no more, no less. Start working on three tasks, and add a new task only when another gets completed. It works. Kanban, a popular lean methodology, uses a similar visual assignment of work items to manage and improve work.
5. Lean on your trusted peers.
Reach out and foster peer support. I, for example, connected with a group of writers and speakers, and we committed to a daily routine of intentional writing and supporting one another’s business journeys. Your trusted peers can serve as great emotional and mental support. They can be your thinking partners, inspire you to do things differently or help you look at a challenge through a new lens.
6. Start easy.
Too much on your plate? Tackle easy (and important) tasks first. Celebrate what you have done to boost your confidence. Watch out for tasks that are familiar but not important. Place your “not important” in your “maybe in 10 years” folder.
Everyone manages stress differently, but you cannot thrive with a lingering sense of being overwhelmed. When you sweat the small stuff, you lose sight of your destination. You blur your vision and deprive your mind and soul of clarity and alignment to a higher purpose. I believe we are what we repeatedly do. You become more grounded—and less shaken—when you align your actions and purpose. Clarity brings calm, and calm can elevate you to a place of being, not doing. You are so much more than your survival skills, and the days ahead will prove it.
This article was published on Forbes.com