Burnout may sound abstract, but it is real, and during the pandemic, it has been on the rise. According to the World Health Organization, burnout results from, “chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” And this IS a major problem here in Singapore. Especially when Singaporeans are extremely “kiasu” and to some extent, materialistic by nature. As such, we are afraid of losing our jobs. So, yes, burnout is a real. Fortunately there are ways you can to avoid it. Here are some things you can do to avoid burnout at work.
Set Clear & Realistic Expectations
Both internal and external pressure can result in burnouts – whether its having too high standards for yourself, or your colleagues/managers placing too high an expectation on you. Therefore, it is crucial to avoid such scenarios. To do so, it is recommended that you set expectations not just for yourself, but for your peers. This way you and your manager can sit down and have an open conversion to set realistic performance targets and manage expectations.
Get Active!
Being busy is not a good excuse not to get yourself active. Because, exercising or even being active is good for both your mental and physical health! Working out regularly can also help to improve self-confidence and memory, enhance productivity and even reduce stress *we’ve mentioned this a thousand and one times by now*. In short, they are like a little miracle pill, just that it’s not a miracle, it’s REAL. Set aside some time to clock in some light stretches, or even a short walk. You don’t always have to hit the gym or head out for a 10km run. Alternatively, as managers, you should encourage your team to get active by organising team building activities such as Laser Tag, Archery Tag, Bubble Soccer or a combination of all 3! Cohesion offers a wide rage of team building activities you can pick and choose from.
Schedule Periodic Breaks
Lunch break and every other break are not just time for you to eat. They’re also your me-time during work hours, so treat them as such. Don’t do working breaks. Instead, just step into the pantry or somewhere away from your work desk to relax and enjoy your food during that hour (or so). Use extra time to do me-time things, like reading a book, or even meditating. In short, take full advantage of your breaks to do things that will help you relax.
Participate In Social Activities
Well, if you work in a highly collaborative space, you might just want to take up any opportunity to meet with people and participate in social activities. This is because social activities can help to improve work environment, and is a great way to build relationships outside of work. Not only will you be able to cultivate a strong, positive relationship that’ll benefit your work, but also a good friend outside of work! This can actually help you prevent burnouts as having a network of friends at work might just mean having a support system in case stress begins to creep in.