Burnout is practically an epidemic right now. You see social media full of posts with people talking about how they work 14-hour days and 6-day weeks as if it’s admirable (or even the norm). And as someone who has been a chronic over-worker, I get it. As a freelancer, the more I work, the more I make.
That sounded like a dream until I was booked solid and working every day of the week and for most of the day. Burnout hit me hard, even though I’d never been impacted before. I knew I had to make changes to my mental and physical health, and so I did. I started setting boundaries, and I ended some of my contracts the next month.
Burnout is more than just being a little tired or a little over it. It can cause irritability, restlessness, muddled thinking, poor concentration, and agitation. It can cause physical side effects like muscle aches, headaches, weight change, and nausea. It also may make you depressed or anxious.
So how can you avoid professional burnout? Let’s go over the nine best ways to stop burnout in its tracks. [continue reading…]