By Julie Morris at juliemorris.org
Maybe you love your career, or maybe it’s just a job. Either way, finding fulfilment in your day-to-day life is key. When you are unable to find some degree of satisfaction with your work, you will likely become frustrated or bored. And this can lead to career burnout.
What does it mean to be fulfilled?
What fulfilment looks like will differ from one person to the next. And it’s probably not something you can or should derive entirely from your work. For those who are not working their dream job, or who derive deeper satisfaction from your life outside of work, fulfilment may be less about your career and more about overall balance. Or it could be rooted primarily in meaningful relationships. Others may find setting and achieving goals in their work life to be a primary source of satisfaction. Whatever your circumstances, here are some guidelines for maintaining your sense of purpose, and ultimately avoiding getting burnt out.
Practice mindfulness.
No matter how much you enjoy your work, experiencing stress at the workplace can take a serious toll on your physical and mental well-being. It’s bad enough when you’re in the middle of a stressful project or situation. But that stress is seriously exacerbated when you find yourself constantly looking at, and dreading, the next stressful thing. Practicing mindfulness can help with this.
How to incorporate mindfulness into your work life.
Mindfulness isn’t some difficult or complicated practice. It simply means being present in the moment, focused on the task at hand. It doesn’t mean not having goals, however. It is simply a better and more humane way to work toward those goals. Practicing mindfulness at work can mean immersing yourself in the task you are performing, no matter how minute, and taking each step slowly, methodically, and as excellently as possible. You will find you take pleasure in your own pursuit of perfecting the act of the moment. Breathe deeply, avoid distractions, and do only one job at a time.
Put self-care on your to-do list.
When you are committed one hundred percent to your job or career, this can often yield amazing results in terms or productivity. But there’s a downside to this level of dedication, because when you’re giving that much to your work, you’re forgetting to commit to something even more important: your own well-being. When this happens, it can be especially hard on relationships. It can even be deleterious to your health. So even if you do care deeply about your work and believe in its value, you can still get burnt out. Taking time out for self-care can prevent this from happening.
Easy self-care you can do at work.
It’s great if you can fit in days off, take vacations with loved ones, and just generally check out from time to time. But many of us don’t have that option on a regular basis. This doesn’t mean you should run yourself ragged, however. Make a point of taking small breaks for mental health. This might mean listening to music, practicing meditation, or reading something that inspires or encourages you. For stress relief, try a brisk walk, a yoga session, or even a short dance workout. And treat yourself to small pleasures such as a visit to your favourite coffee shop. And above all, carve out some time to spend only with family and loved ones.
Additional stress-relief tips for business managers.
If you are in a management position, it can be especially hard to avoid multitasking and to set aside time for self-care. This is why it is especially important for those with the task of overseeing others to learn to set boundaries and say “no” on occasion. It’s also necessary for you to learn to let go at times, to delegate to others, and resist the temptation to micromanage everything.
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