Day-to-Day Tactics
Managers can also share day-to-day tips with employees on avoiding burnout and staying energized, experts say. They include the following:
GIVE ME A BREAK
Take breaks at the right time. Whenever energy is highest—often in the morning for many workers—focus on moving forward on tasks to maximize your productivity. After a few hours of that, step away for a rest.
WALK IT OFF
Getting out of the office can help you get out of the weeds and consider the big picture. Sometimes, this is when solutions become apparent. Have lunch away from your desk or take a walk in the afternoon.
SCREEN YOUR TIME
Limit the use of digital devices after hours. Some place their smartphone in a drawer after arriving home, so they are not tempted to keep checking texts and emails. Others turn it off after a certain hour, like 8 p.m.
REFRESH WITH A FILM
Schedule restorative experiences. Studies indicate that doing an activity you find interesting—even if that activity is taxing—can be more restorative than simply relaxing. Using the mind for something other than work can also be renewing. When he experienced writer’s block due to fatigue, Nobel Prize–winning novelist Saul Bellow found that going to see a movie on five consecutive nights was mentally refreshing.
GET OUT OF HERE
Vacations are critical, but many workers can take them only once a year. Given this reality, taking regular three-day weekends can be an excellent way to periodically reduce stress. But don’t assume that burnout can be alleviated simply by giving a worker an unexpected day off, which is merely a Band-Aid.
