« Contest - Win Two Osamu Tezuka "Black Jack" Books | Fingertips Home | Fall Risk »

May 28, 2009

Burnout

There's only so much of you to give. A portion of what you give of yourself every day should go back to you. Scott Boms website A List Apart discusses burnout, with a focus on web professionals, but his advice could well extend to many of us who struggle to balance career and personal life.

You may be flirting with burnout if:
* Every day is a bad day
* You are no longer emotionally invested in your job or the work you’re doing
* You feel unappreciated or do not feel like you’re making a difference in your job
* There is a clear disconnect between your personal values and what is expected of you
* Self-defined goals or those imposed on you are unrealistic or unreasonable
* A significant amount of your day is focused on tasks that are not fulfilling on a personal or emotional level

I'm between semesters for 10 weeks, and I've chosen to work. I've been working for almost a month, now, and the enthusiasm that I came into the job with is getting harder and harder to muster up. I've decided I need a vacation. I don't need a long vacation, but it would be nice to have a long weekend with a stack of fiction and a great view and the option to just stare and drool if I want to.

Extra money is great and necessary, but the reality is, this 10 weeks is designed for us to recharge our batteries. Working a job is educational, but I'm finding that lately I'm gravitating toward mindless tasks such as folding laundry, just to get away from even the simple demands of my job. This may be a passing phase, I always have a lull of enthusiasm at some point in the semester, so I expect the same goes for my job.

And for me, there are nightmares. They're not full blown night terrors but they're stressful dreams. Themes consist of 1) getting lost in a creepy section of town without money or a cell phone, 2) failing several test in one class and ultimately failing the class as a result, 3) traveling and not being able to make a connecting flight. Also there are busy, frenetic dreams where I wake up more tired than when I went to sleep.

I know what I need to do to combat stress. If I can't take a real vacation, I must work to make one for myself. Here are some ideas (in no particular order):
1) Take a little time everyday to go my happy place
2) read a light novel
3) go to the local botanical gardens or art museum
4) go on a picnic
5) take a day trip
6) make art
7) take a nap (however, this could contribute to my sleep problem)
8) call an old friend
9) bake something
10) take a warm bath
11) exercise
12) dig in the dirt (or plant something)

All of these are things I'm able to accomplish this summer and most don't cost a thing.

tags: massage massagetherapy wellness massage therapy bodywork health stress burnout

Posted by linda at May 28, 2009 6:37 PM