There’s a common misconception that in order to be successful, you need to be ultra busy. We hear the warnings about burnout, but it is also glorified. But the truth is, it is possible to achieve business success without being stressed, writes Dr Jacinta Di Prinzio.
If you find yourself with a long to-do list but you feel as if there isn’t enough time or energy to give, here are my six tips for how to find a good balance without burning out.
Avoid burning out with these simple tips
Batch your work
Batching your work is when you do similar tasks, all in one go, rather than moving in and out of tasks. This allows you to be much more productive. For example, instead of writing a blog then filming and editing that blog into a video, I write four or five blogs all in one sitting. Then later I film those blogs into videos back to back. This means I then have plenty of content pre-prepared.
To start batching, write down all of the bits and pieces you do across the week. Then highlight themes and create batching segments for your week.
The hour of power
Multi tasking is a myth. It is not possible to focus on multiple tasks at one time. The best you will be doing is an average job of a lot of things and creating lots of stress in the process. I like to block out an hour a day where I go head down and work. No distractions, no social media. I pick the task that will give me the most freedom in the future regardless of whether it is urgent or not.
Create space to avoid burnout
A cluttered space equals a cluttered mind. So, it is time to Marie Kondo your life. Hire a cleaner, de-clutter your work space, your home and clean out your inbox. By creating more space in your life, you will be able to hold more and, unleash your productivity.
Take regular breaks will help prevent burning out
I know from seeing thousands of clients over the last 10+ years that you will be way more productive and creative when you are rested. Make sure you have regular scheduled downtime for you in your week and do not reschedule it. When you take holidays, try to take 10 days or more – research shows it takes that long for your nervous system to completely unwind.
If you have to sit for long periods, stretch
Did you know that something as simple as posture can influence how we perceive the world and react to stress? The Bruegger’s stretch will release tension – with feet hip distance apart and palms by your side facing out, squeeze your shoulder blades together while ensuring they stay relaxed down and look up and back. Breathe deeply and calmly into your tummy. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat 3 times, twice daily.
Bridge the gap between the future and the present
When you spend too much time thinking about the person you want to become, the things you want to have and achieve, you can find yourself in a space I call the gap. It’s the comparison of the person you are now with the person you perceive you will be in the future. You can reduce your anxiety by coming back to the present moment.
By following these six strategies to lower your stress levels, you can turn around potential burnout and achieve what you want to.
Source: Flying Solo October 2021
This article by Dr Jacinta Di Prinzio is reproduced with the permission of Flying Solo – Australia’s micro business community. Find out more and join over 100K others https://www.flyingsolo.com.au/join.
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