Battling Burnout Effectively
Hey y’all, today I am going to talk about Burnout and how it can prevent us from doing the jobs we love.
In a world that seems to be more interested in quantity than quality, burnout has become one of the biggest issues faced by society today. No matter how much you love your job, it can feel completely monotonous repeating the same tasks day after day. Burnout can even make more creative jobs begin to feel lifeless and purposeless. However, there are several ways you can avoid burnout in your day-to-day life and avoid feeling like nothing more than a cog in the machine.
I have worked at my current Freelance Staff Writing position at Comic Book Resources for over seven months. I have completed almost 200 anime-related articles, each around 1,800 words. That’s roughly 360,000, or about 720 pages of work. One of the main questions I get pretty consistently is: What about burnout? While I have felt the complacent sting of Burnout many times, I have largely learned to avoid it or recover from it.
One of the easiest ways to avoid Burnout is working closely with something you’re passionate about. I am a large fan of anime, so writing about anime is very enjoyable to me. Although I also generally enjoy writing, it is much easier for me to write about something that I love. However, this can be applied to every aspect of a working life. If you’re not enjoying what you’re doing, at least to some degree, you might be in the wrong field.
If you can, work in a field that excites you. Try to find a job that excites you to get out of bed every morning, or at the very least keeps you engaged and challenged daily. If there’s a job opening for a company you’ve always wanted to work for, apply. The worst they can say is no, which I touched on briefly in my last blog post.
That said, many people are forced to take jobs they might not want. Moreover, not every role has extensive benefits or prestigious perks. Yet, if you search hard enough, I am sure you’ll find every job is worth doing. Every single profession is important to society in some way. Sometimes, avoiding burnout in the workplace can be as simple as reminding yourself that you and your job are important.
If you didn’t do your job, someone’s life would be irreparably different. Your job likely isn’t easy, but it is worth your time. Your job could be the reason that someone thanks God every day. Even the most insignificant-seeming jobs can be life-changing to the right people. Nonetheless, you should always remember that you are also worth your time.
Remembering yourself essentially boils down to ensuring that all your needs are met. Are you getting enough sleep? Are you eating good meals? Are you living a healthy lifestyle?” Are you taking time for yourself away from work? If you answered no to at least one of these questions, that could be what is causing your burnout. Burnout usually finds us when we aren’t doing what we need to do to support ourselves. That being said, even the healthiest people can suffer from Burnout. Another easy way to avoid Burnout is to ensure you take breaks when necessary.
Many people avoid breaks because they are associated with Laziness, but a small break here and there can make you a much more efficient worker. As long as you aren’t being excessive with your breaks, you can use them to clear your mind and become more focused. If you work a desk job, ensure you take the time to leave your computer behind now and again. Your work is important, but not more so than your health. Sometimes, consistent burnout can indicate that we aren’t working the right jobs.
There is a difference between Burnout and Writer’s Block, which I intend to cover later. Yet, at the very least, consistent Burnout should be a call to attention. Do you spend extra time in bed daily to avoid going to work? No one likes going to work, but if you’ve begun to demonize the morning, it’s time for a change. Financial Stability is crucial, but if you sacrifice your mental health, you won’t be able to do the job for long.
In the end, the best ways to avoid burnout are: pursue your passions, find the silver lining in your profession, listen to your body, and make sure you’re working the right job. These four small things could end up changing your entire life. It’s important to remember that everyone suffers from Burnout at one time or another, but you can recover from it. Keep chasing your dreams and trying to make the world a better place.
Stay Creative,
Russell
