Very much a prescription in this day and age. I can wholeheartedly agree with you in this comment, then forget the advice altogether the moment the page closes though.
What will hopefully help me is putting those breaks in my calendar and holding myself to them. Pomodoro timers to break up the day whilst I am working, and clocking off when I should, scheduling the family time or me time.
It's not enough to just "intend" to take a break, you have to schedule it as if it was a business meeting.
You hit the nail on the head, Mark. Intention and feel good vibes won't get us there. We need to put the same energy and intensity taking our breaks and recharge times as we do to work on our initiatives and projects. Downtime isn't a tactic, it should be part of your strategy. Amen!
Perfect timing again. We all tend to fall back into these type of habits and I hit my plateau Sunday, so I made a decision and I’m sticking with it. It’s all related to everything that you wrote about, and just changing that in one day has made all the difference in the world.
So I’m not riding five articles this week even though that wasn’t planned it just happened I’m staying off the computer/iPhone on Substack 14-16 hrs. a day. A few weeks ago I started a really intense workout routine and started getting my tan because the temperatures in Florida are gorgeous in the 80s and not too humid. Start an eating better taking breaks and tomato world of difference not only physically but mentally. And I know these things I teach these things, but we’re all human, and we do fall back into old habits sometimes. Was just a reminder encouragement I needed to know that I was doing the right thing. Some things can wait. Everything is not an emergency.
Love that Kathleen. Glad you took a pause, recharged yourself and got clarity about your next steps. I used to write 2 newsletters a week (one on Tue and one on Thu). I stopped the Thu one 2 months ago because I simply couldn't sustain it. I want to enjoy the process of writing. Each piece I do should be well done, not half baked. What works for others doesn't work for me. I'm learning more about myself as I spend time on Substack. Wish you well for the long journey ahead.
When I start eating meals at my desk, it's a huge red flag for me. Great essay on burnout...so many can benefit from understanding their own warning signs.
Thank you Susan. Eating meals at my desk was fun when I started working from home. It took me months to realize I was missing family time. Late but a needed realization
Fascinating. I'm sure a lot of people experienced this during pandemic, almost knowing how to deal with this situation we were all in . You found a way to thrive in it.
I don't know if you are a Medium member. You can highlight the statements that resonate with you, and I love that. If we had that capability on Substack, I would have highlighted this article a lot. It's great to hear that you figured things out. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
We often believe that working more, doing more, and constantly being “on” makes us better at our jobs, but the reality is, it’s a fast track to burnout. I used to brag about getting only a couple hours of sleep or pulling all-nighters, but as you get older, your body just can’t keep up. When I left my last job, I didn’t realize how burned out I had become after years of being constantly available, especially for an organization that didn’t even value that effort.
Thank you for sharing. My last job was with a startup. My relationship with the CEO went downhill and that stressed me out. I worked harder and longer to prove myself. In 4 weeks, I realized this wasn't sustainable. So, I quit. The best decision I ever took.
I agree. People who spend hours at their desk and never take a break get tired and make mistakes. They work slower and have to fix all the errors they've made. Much better to take proper break.
Very much a prescription in this day and age. I can wholeheartedly agree with you in this comment, then forget the advice altogether the moment the page closes though.
What will hopefully help me is putting those breaks in my calendar and holding myself to them. Pomodoro timers to break up the day whilst I am working, and clocking off when I should, scheduling the family time or me time.
It's not enough to just "intend" to take a break, you have to schedule it as if it was a business meeting.
You hit the nail on the head, Mark. Intention and feel good vibes won't get us there. We need to put the same energy and intensity taking our breaks and recharge times as we do to work on our initiatives and projects. Downtime isn't a tactic, it should be part of your strategy. Amen!
Simply classing it as part of the strategy elevates it’s importance too, from afterthought to something that was in the plan all of the time.
Exactly, we change the way we think about it. That changes how we execute it.
Perfect timing again. We all tend to fall back into these type of habits and I hit my plateau Sunday, so I made a decision and I’m sticking with it. It’s all related to everything that you wrote about, and just changing that in one day has made all the difference in the world.
So I’m not riding five articles this week even though that wasn’t planned it just happened I’m staying off the computer/iPhone on Substack 14-16 hrs. a day. A few weeks ago I started a really intense workout routine and started getting my tan because the temperatures in Florida are gorgeous in the 80s and not too humid. Start an eating better taking breaks and tomato world of difference not only physically but mentally. And I know these things I teach these things, but we’re all human, and we do fall back into old habits sometimes. Was just a reminder encouragement I needed to know that I was doing the right thing. Some things can wait. Everything is not an emergency.
Love that Kathleen. Glad you took a pause, recharged yourself and got clarity about your next steps. I used to write 2 newsletters a week (one on Tue and one on Thu). I stopped the Thu one 2 months ago because I simply couldn't sustain it. I want to enjoy the process of writing. Each piece I do should be well done, not half baked. What works for others doesn't work for me. I'm learning more about myself as I spend time on Substack. Wish you well for the long journey ahead.
My biggest takeaway: Energy is finite. Saying yes to everything leads to burnout. Thank you for sharing, Vijaya.
Glad you connected with this, thank you for your feedback!
When I start eating meals at my desk, it's a huge red flag for me. Great essay on burnout...so many can benefit from understanding their own warning signs.
Thank you Susan. Eating meals at my desk was fun when I started working from home. It took me months to realize I was missing family time. Late but a needed realization
Fascinating. I'm sure a lot of people experienced this during pandemic, almost knowing how to deal with this situation we were all in . You found a way to thrive in it.
Circumstances drive us out of our comfort zone and this was one of them. Glad to know you connected with this, thank you!
I don't know if you are a Medium member. You can highlight the statements that resonate with you, and I love that. If we had that capability on Substack, I would have highlighted this article a lot. It's great to hear that you figured things out. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
Thank you for your kind words, Charisse! Glad to know you connected with this.
We often believe that working more, doing more, and constantly being “on” makes us better at our jobs, but the reality is, it’s a fast track to burnout. I used to brag about getting only a couple hours of sleep or pulling all-nighters, but as you get older, your body just can’t keep up. When I left my last job, I didn’t realize how burned out I had become after years of being constantly available, especially for an organization that didn’t even value that effort.
Thank you for sharing. My last job was with a startup. My relationship with the CEO went downhill and that stressed me out. I worked harder and longer to prove myself. In 4 weeks, I realized this wasn't sustainable. So, I quit. The best decision I ever took.
I am a big believer that sometimes the best thing we can do is walk away!
I agree. People who spend hours at their desk and never take a break get tired and make mistakes. They work slower and have to fix all the errors they've made. Much better to take proper break.
Glad you connected with this Wendy. Taking breaks and prioritizing rest go a long way in preventing avoidable burnout.