| Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... |
The Burnout Balancing Act: Why 8 Hours Can Feel Both Endless and Fleeting
Yeah you are right, the eight-hour workday. After finishing my long hard day, while I was walking back home, I was thinking what should I write today and thought why not write about the 8 hours time we spend at work which feels like both endless and fleeting (meaning lasting for a very short time).
Please note I am taking the standard working hours but most of us spend definitely beyond the 8 hour mark.
For some, it’s a glorious chunk of time to delve into their passions, craft masterpieces, and leave with a sense of accomplishment.
For others, it’s a never-ending slog, each minute a desperate race against the clock.
The answer, my friends, lies in the delicate dance between passion and productivity.
When you love your work, those eight hours can fly by(seems like I had one today).
A study by Gallup found that engaged employees are 21% more productive than their disengaged counterparts. Time melts away as you tackle challenges, lose yourself in projects, and revel in the satisfaction of a job well done. It’s like playing a video game you can’t put down.
I still recall doing my first job with 8 to 9 hours passing by just like that and I am no exception.
But here’s the rub: just like that addictive game, too much of a good thing can turn sour.
A 2022 report by the International Labor Organization revealed that 74% of employees who report feeling burned out have high levels of emotional commitment to their work.
Think of it as running a marathon. Sure, the initial burst of adrenaline is exhilarating, but if you push yourself too hard without rest, you’ll crash and burn. Similarly, passion without boundaries can morph into relentless pressure, blurring the lines between work and life.
Your once-happy eight hours become a battlefield of exhaustion and frustration.
So, how do we strike the magical balance between joyful immersion and sustainable productivity?
Here are some tips to balance and avoid burnout
- Set boundaries: Schedule time for hobbies, family, and friends. Let your brain recharge and remember there’s a whole world outside your work bubble.
- Learn to say no: Not every task deserves your precious energy. Prioritize, delegate, and don’t be afraid to politely decline additional burdens. I know everything is urgent that’s why it’s important to learn to say no and more importantly helps you avoiding burnout
- Embrace flexible work arrangements: If possible, opt for flexible hours or a remote work setup. This can help you manage your personal commitments and optimize your energy levels.
- Communicate openly: Talk to your manager about workload concerns. A supportive supervisor can help you adjust responsibilities and ensure a healthy work-life balance.
Remember, your passion is a powerful tool. So, respect your limits, prioritize your well-being, and enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
Because at the end of the day, even the most fulfilling work needs to be sustainable to be truly rewarding. I learnt this very late I hope this advice is not taken for granted.
Sources:
- Gallup: https://www.gallup.com/workplace/229424/employee-engagement.aspx
- International Labor Organization: https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—ed_protect/—protrav/—safework/documents/publication/wcms_466547.pdf
- Prosecutable to Profitable: esst.institute/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Prosecutable-to-Profitable-by-Clare-Feeney.pdf
So, go forth, but don’t forget to take care of yourselves along the way. After all, a burnout hero is no hero at all.
Join our vibrant community of enlightened readers! Elevate your knowledge with exclusive updates and insights by subscribing today!
A heartfelt thank you for investing your time in reading this article. For a deeper dive into Project and Operations Management, along with best practices, delve into more of my articles at www.projinsights.com.
Your thoughts and feedback are invaluable to us. Reach out to us at [email protected]; we cherish every comment.
If you’ve found value in my content and feel like supporting, why not treat me to a coffee?
And here’s an invitation: Subscribe to experience daily blog posts. Don’t keep this treasure to yourself—share it with your family and friends. Thank you!