Do you have EOFY Burnout?
A common topic of our conversations with our network at end of financial year is that feeling of exhaustion, burnout, stress and being pulled in too many directions. Maybe you are finalising EOFY budgets, scrambling to complete fundraising tax appeals or just ongoing tight deadlines, heavy workloads or under-resourced teams. Maybe the extra burden of the COVID-19 dilemma is taking its toll. You are not alone.
Burnout can arise in any sector. In the ‘for purpose’ sector, we see that stress can creep into the lives of people who spend their their time working extremely hard to make a difference for vulnerable families and children, animals, cancer, medical research and other important causes that make a significant social or environmental impact.
Burnout can have wide ranging affect on individuals, teams, and organisations. It’s only natural that a burnt out, fatigued, or stressed employee won’t perform as well at work which can obviously impact overall results, the ability to reach targets, staff satisfaction and team morale, and more. So, if you’re a leader, it’s not only important to check in on yourself, but your team too.
Some simple reminders if you, or someone in your team, is feeling burnt out:
Take breaks.
This sounds so simple yet is often forgotten. When things start to feel overwhelming or your energy is fading, take a break by getting up from your desk and taking a short walk (even better if you can get outside in fresh air). These mini breaks can help you feel refreshed, calm your mind, and gain clarity or perspective.
‘Bounce’ days. If you feel you need more than a mini break, you may benefit from a ‘bounce’ day, or some might call it a ‘mental health’ day. It’s a day off so you can relax, unwind, and recuperate in order to bounce back to full energy. Watch a movie, lunch with a friend, go on a bush walk… whatever will fill your tank.
Focus on your ‘why’. Try to think about why your work matters. Asking yourself some of these questions can bring perspective… Why did you get into this area of work, what do you love about your job and team, what impact have you seen, how do your current projects contribute to your goals?
These simple and temporary ways can help to manage burnout or fatigue. For further guidance you may want to join us at one of our upcoming wellbeing webinars.
