Love your work? Here’s how you can protect your peace and avoid burnout at work

As kids, many of us had a clear answer to the question about what we wanted to be when we grew up. Our dreams were often shaped by our interests, passion and the gentle nudging of our parents. As we grew up, the idea of landing that perfect job became more and more real. In fact, right from childhood to our young adulthood, we worked towards this goal, hoping to find a career that would bring us happiness and success.

However, when we do find that dream job, reality strikes. The job comes with the pressure to succeed at all times. What starts as a source of inspiration and motivation turns into a cause of stress and anxiety.

Work is an essential part of our lives, influencing much of what we do and who we become. It fuels our ambitions and gives us purpose. And yet, many people experience an overwhelming feeling of burnout when the demands of work feel unmanageable. Long hours, high expectations and constant pressure leave people physically and mentally drained.

In such times, it’s important to remember the need to protect our peace. Finding ways to avoid burnout at work is important for maintaining the balance in our lives; simple strategies like setting boundaries, taking breaks and practicing self-care can help us manage stress. One of the earliest lessons to learn as an adult is that by prioritising our mental and emotional health, we can work productively while maintaining our wellbeing.

Join us as we explore how to protect our peace and avoid burnout at work further.

Understand the signs of burnout

Many a times, we don’t even realise that our work is causing us stress. We all have those moments when we come home feeling irritated and snappy. We end up being mean to our family or just generally annoyed with everything around us. This is often a sign that work-related stress is taking its toll on us, even if we don’t recognise it right away.

Burnout can show up in many ways, including physical, emotional and mental exhaustion. You might feel physically drained, no matter how much sleep you get. Or you might find yourself disconnecting from your work even though you like it a lot. Emotionally, you may start believing that your efforts are not making a difference. These are all symptoms that a burnout is happening.

The first step towards healing from burnout is recognising the signs early so you can take action to prevent it from becoming bigger than it has to.

Make sure to unplug

In today’s digital world, there is no real disconnect—we are constantly online, always checking emails, messages and notifications on our phones and laptops. This constant connectivity is overwhelming and not good for our mental health in the long run. The pressure to always be available, whether through emails, calls or messages, leaves little room for mental relaxation, even during our personal time.

To protect our peace, it’s important to find ways to unplug. Setting clear boundaries, such as turning off work-related notifications after hours or designating certain times of the day to be phone-free can help. Taking breaks from technology allows our mind to clear, helping us reset and return to work feeling refreshed.

Make sure to microbreaks

Many of us are often in a rush to finish our work, hoping that we can get through the day quickly and have some free time in the evening. We push ourselves to work non-stop, thinking that we can catch a break later. However, this approach also leads to stress and burnout.

So, for those who are losing peace of mind in an attempt to save time, microbreaks are what you are looking for! These little breaks are essential for maintaining productivity and wellbeing throughout the day.

Small breaks taken in regular periods throughout a workday can do wonders for both work quality and one’s overall health. Just a few minutes of stretching, a quick walk or some deep breathing exercises during these microbreaks can help recharge the mind and body.

Seek joy beyond work

We often think of work as the most important part of our lives. It’s easy to get caught up in the belief that our careers define us and because of that, everything else takes a back seat. However, work should not be the only focus of our lives. There are many other aspects that contribute to a fulfilling life and work is just one part of it. Engaging in activities outside of work that bring us joy is essential for maintaining a healthy balance.

Whether it’s spending time with family and friends, pursuing hobbies and exploring creative interests, these activities are known to recharge the mind and body. Finding fulfillment beyond work ensures that we don’t rely solely on our job for happiness. This reduces the risk of burnout and also helps us feel more content in life.

Understand that nobody is perfect

There is a tendency to look for perfection in everything we do. This constant expectation to perform flawlessly makes things harder for a lot of people, leading to stress and anxiety. In fact, the pressure to be perfect can lead to unnecessary stress and burnout professionally as well as personally. It’s very important to remember that no one is perfect and everyone is working hard to succeed. And that striving for perfection actually sets us up for disappointment.

Instead, focusing on doing our best and seeing mistakes as opportunities to learn is better and beneficial. By letting go of the need for perfection, we can reduce stress and approach our work with a healthier mindset.

Know your limits

We perform well at work, take on additional responsibilities and are trusted with more tasks. This chain of events happens to a lot of us. However, there are times when companies cut down on staff and the remaining employees are burdened with extra work. This becomes an unhealthy practise because trying to do the work of more than one person eventually leads to a burnout.

Learning to set limits is essential for maintaining our peace. We should not be afraid to ask for help or pass on tasks that others can handle when required. Setting clear boundaries about what we can manage and what we cannot is essential for protecting our mental and physical health.

Ask for flexible work timings

One thing that the recent pandemic taught us is that we can manage a lot of our work from home and for many, this has been a great shift. The flexibility of working from home allows us to have more control over our time, reduces the stress of commuting and gives us a better chance at balancing our personal and professional responsibilities.

Working from home for years altogether also proved that productivity didn’t have to suffer just because we were not in a traditional office setting.

If you too feel that the demands of your job are starting to affect your mental health, it might be time to explore flexible working options. Don’t hesitate to speak to your manager about the possibility of making adjustments to your work schedule. Finding the right balance can help you manage stress, avoid burnout and be productive in your role.

Protecting your peace and preventing workplace burnout requires self-awareness, healthy habits and boundaries. Work is important, but so is your wellbeing. By following these simple strategies, you can avoid burnout and enjoy a fulfilling career.