Surviving End-of-Year Burnout

We all experience burnout at times, even if we love our job. Burnout is an ongoing state of mental fatigue and exhaustion, which is often caused by prolonged stress. As we approach the end of the calendar year, many businesses are working to meet their fourth quarter and annual goals. There is a lot of pressure to finish out the year strong and set the business up for success in the coming year.

When you are experiencing burnout, it is often very difficult to concentrate on your work. You begin to lose motivation, and you may even wonder if it was all worth it to begin with. It can also make it harder for you to make quick decisions. Pulling yourself out of that mental pit of despair is not always easy, but there are coping mechanisms that you can implement into your daily routine to help alleviate that feeling.

As the individual who is experiencing burnout, it is important to manage your priorities. When there is too much on your plate, you get overwhelmed. You cannot do everything at once, so take things one task at a time. Focus first on what is both important and urgent for you to get done, then move on to the rest of the urgent tasks, and lastly, work on what is left if you still have time. It helps to write down your priorities at the beginning of each work day.

Another thing you should do is take short mental breaks throughout the day. When there is a lot to get done, most people just keep going and keep going until they can’t anymore, but that wears you out even more. Instead, allow yourself to step back from your work periodically and relax your mind. This helps you maintain your energy at work by allowing you to take care of your mental state throughout the day. You can use this time to get a coffee, check in with a coworker, stretch your legs, or whatever else gets your mind off of work for a couple of minutes at a time. Moving around is also very important. When you are stuck behind a desk all day, life starts to feel monotonous, but also, sitting down for too long prevents your body from getting proper blood flow. Taking care of your physical health aids in maintaining your mental health. That also means that you should be taking care of yourself outside of work, like getting a good amount of sleep each night.

From a leadership perspective, you can also assist in preventing burnout amongst your team and/or helping them deal with it. You should encourage open communication. People want to feel heard and cared about. Listen to your employees’ concerns, and provide them with the necessary support and resources when possible. Though not solely, you do largely influence the working environment as a leader.

You also want to establish positive accountability. This means that you provide feedback when things are going well, not just when someone messes something up. Show your appreciation for your employees regularly by acknowledging their efforts and contributions. According to the American Psychological Association, when people feel valued at work, the likelihood of them experiencing burnout is reduced, and their well-being and performance goes up. Leaders must foster a culture of appreciation for their employees.

As 2024 draws to a close, address any of the things that may be causing you burnout, take advantage of the time off during the holidays if you have it, and look forward to 2025 with an open mind. There are so many possibilities just around the corner for you. In the meantime, take care of yourself, and do the things that make you happy as much as you can.

-Meghan Slaughter