Here are some ways to manage burnout when it happens, without anyone even noticing.
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Anyone who’s an executive knows part of the job is to inspire an employee base. But whether it’s because of an especially busy time, a stressful situation, or even something at home, burnout can find its way in. Here are some ways to manage burnout when it happens, without anyone even noticing.
Stick to a healthy schedule. When remote work became the norm during COVID-19, the lines between work and home life became more blurred. Now that two and a half years have gone by, it can be a good opportunity for executives to assess how much time they’re actually putting into work. “Remember, being the boss doesn’t mean that you have to personally manage everything that’s happening,” Mark Moses, founding partner and CEO of CEO Coaching International, wrote in a post on his company’s website. “You’re the poet, not the plumber. Set targets, put measurable, actionable steps in place that will move the company toward those targets, and delegate responsibility.”
Take breaks. Breaks as a concept are simple, but in the corporate world, they’re often overlooked. Unoma Okorafor, CEO and founder of Texas-based Herbal Goodness and president of the nonprofit WAAW Foundation based in Nigeria, wrote in a Forbes article it’s important to take real, honest-to-god breaks not merged with work at all. “It could be as simple as lunch in the breakroom or taking a nature walk to stretch out, and it could be as elaborate as taking a vacation,” Okorafor said. “The important thing is finding time to look away from building your business and just kicking back for a bit.”
Reignite the fire. Sometimes in times of extreme stress, it’s a good idea to remember how it all began. “I own a comic book company, so I go back to the comic book store and find an old comic I can get excited about that reignites my passion,” Ross Richie, CEO of California-based BOOM! Studios, told Fast Company. “I leave the office for an afternoon, avoid email, turn off the phone, and go into a research hole that refreshes my spirit.”
