Experiencing Burnout? Try These Productivity Methods, As Recommended By A Career Coach
Let us not forget the importance of rest.
Since the March 2020 lockdown when the work-from-home set-up started being widely implemented, there has been a spike in the number of people experiencing burnout. Pat Mallari, a career coach, says that this is attributed to the blurring lines between work and life.
“The pandemic magnified their issues further, so I noticed a spike in clients seeking coaching sessions over the last 6 months. Perhaps the first 6 months of lockdown (March to August) forced people to adjust physically to the new normal (masks, social distancing, etc.). When it settled [and it became] our new normal, more mental and emotional health challenges surfaced, such as dealing with parents, dealing with children while working, etc,” she says.
For Aurora Suarez, a life and career coach, the pandemic has led to increased anxiety, fear, and grief over all the changes in such a short amount of time. These emotions may be left unprocessed and can emphasize the feeling of lack of control.
Work burnout
According to Coach Pat, “work burnout” happens when your time and efforts only seem to focus on one aspect of your life, completely forgetting that there are other facets that are equally important. It may differ for each person as we all have varying priorities, however, “burnout” does not only happen at work. It can also happen in our relationships and our health.
Young professionals suffer from burnout because they tend to lose perspective and fail to recharge. Coach Pat says that when you feel like your work has become your identity, all of your efforts even outside of work hours will be unconsciously directed to it.
If we look at the bigger picture, our careers comprise 1/3 of our day, which means that the remaining 2/3 of our day should also be taken in consideration. Thus, the need for rest.
How exactly can we make sure to rest while working from home? Well, here are three productivity methods recommended by Coach Pat to help us build a system to combat burnout.
The Pomodoro Technique
This technique is popular among those who feel easily distracted, which results to unfinished and open-ended tasks. It can help you stay focused and stay mentally fresh, so you can finish your tasks without sacrificing rest.
How it works:
- Pick a task that you would like to accomplish.
- Set a 25-minute timer, and work on your task until the time is up.
- When the 25 minutes is up, take a 5-minute break. This circuit is called a “pomodoro.”
- For every four pomodoros, take a longer 15 to 30-minute break.
Time Blocking Technique
This is Coach Pat’s personal favorite technique to use at work, as it helps her focus on one specific task in a given time period and postpone other tasks for their scheduled “time blocks” for the day.
How it works:
- Determine your high-level priorities versus tasks that are not as important.
- Create your time blocks. For this step, it is important to include your routine. For example, you can create a time block for your “morning routine” starting at 8am to 9am before working.
- Schedule high-level priorities first. After you have created time blocks for your routines, create schedules for tasks that should be prioritized, and make them as specific as you can.
- After scheduling your priorities, you can now create time blocks for “non-essential” tasks.
- Don’t forget to include work breaks and make time blocks for them too!
Eat The Frog Technique
This technique is for those who struggle with procrastination and those who feel easily overwhelmed with their seemingly never-ending to-do list. The Eat The Frog method will teach you how to prioritize!
How it works:
- Identify your frog. Your “frog” is your most difficult task of the day.
- Eat your frog. Do this most difficult and most important task first thing in the morning, and don’t give yourself a chance to put it off.
- Repeat this every day. It gives you the ability to improve your prioritization skills, and when done consistently, it can also help you achieve big accomplishments.
The takeaway
While having work-life balance is important, Coach Aurora believes in work-life integration. Your work is a part of your life, but it should not be your whole life.
“If it is the thing that is giving your life purpose, maybe it's time to examine that thought and see if it's serving you or limiting you,” she explains. Ask yourself: What will happen if the work is taken away from you?
This is a reminder that it has been a difficult year for everyone, and after a year of forced changes, it is time to give yourself some rest and compassion.
“Be okay with doing your best for the day, even if that looks nothing like your pre-pandemic productivity,” says Coach Aurora. “You are already worthy of being here in this world—with or without your work.”
You can reach Coach Aurora Suarez on Instagram or visit her website.
Coach Pat Mallari can be contacted through Purposeful Careers Co’s website and Facebook pageThis article orginally appeared on OneLife.PH
