Exclusive:
Getting back into the swing of work after the festive period can be overwhelming, especially if your job is demanding. We chat to career expert Rob Phelps on how to avoid dreaded burnout
When all the food has been eaten and all the prosecco has been sunk, going back to work after the festive season can be pretty tough.
While many people may try and start the new year off on a good foot, armed with goals and new year resolutions, it can be easy to burnout quickly.
We put a lot of pressure on ourselves in January to set ourselves goals for the year, whether that’s to climb the corporate ladder, get into a fitness routine or just to socialise more, all while trying to get back into the swing of work again after slowing down in December.
According to career expert Rob Phelps from Social Media Jobs, burnout is a state of mental, emotional and physical exhaustion caused by stress. This is often from a lack of work-life balance, working too much or not feeling as if you are able to meet demands. “It can present itself as chronic fatigue, emotional exhaustion, and even physical symptoms like sleep disturbances and headaches,” he told The Mirror.
As a lot of workers will start to slow down as the festive season approaches, which leads to a backlog of work that needs to be done in January – and can lead to a sense of feeling overwhelmed. The expert added: “January is seen as the time for fresh starts, and many people set new years’ resolutions – but the pressure to hit these targets you’ve set yourself can lead to overexertion and burnout.”
Saying yes to everything, taking on extra work on top of your own to-do list to avoid letting people down, and proritising other people’s needs over your own can lead to a serious burnout. Rob said by doing this will add “unnecessary stress and exhaustion, and ultimately become less productive.”
He further noted: “The constant state of busyness can take over and make it difficult to focus on your core responsibilities, and potentially mean mistakes or missed deadlines, for the sake of helping too many people with their own deadlines, or trying to meet your own ambitious goals.”
However there are ways you can avoid a burnout, and Rob’s biggest tip is to not be a hero. “Feeling exhausted, irritable, and unable to focus, are sure signs that burnout is near, so take some time to recharge and come back to the search with fresh energy when you’re ready.”
He also urged people to resist taking on more work than you can handle and suggested to make a list of current tasks and responsibilities in order of urgency. “Allow yourself to politely say no when your boss or colleague asks if you have time to do something for them, explaining that you’re currently working on something that is at the top of your priority list, so don’t have time to spare at the moment.”
If you do feel like burnout is approaching, there are ways to help deal with it. By understanding how you’re feeling, and what you can do to help. Ask yourself if it’s because of how much work you have to complete, or is it the feeling of not being able to complete the tasks and goals you have set? Rob said this will make it easier to help yourself deal with the feelings of overwhelm and burnout.
Do you have a story to share? Email niamh.kirk@reachplc.com
