Whether you are in the early stages of your career, trying to make progress, or you are more established, you may find it a challenge to keep your productivity level high. Constantly pushing yourself to perform can be exhausting, and is not always in your best interest. Pressure, either from yourself or externally, creates an ideal situation for burnout.
There are ways to keep your productivity level high without burning out. One thing to keep in mind is that it is much easier to take steps to avoid burnout in the first place than it is to recover from it.
Outsource What You Can
Just like you hand off certain responsibilities at your job, you can do the same in your personal life. Grocery delivery can be a great time-saver, as can a house cleaning service. While this type of outsourcing is relatively common, there are other, more unique, ways you can save time and effort around the house.
Endless small errands eat up more time than you realize. One way to cut down on that is through subscription boxes. Whether it is skincare or snacks, you have a box delivered each month that contains items for you to try out and use. This can be a great time-saver, and keep you out of the mall.
If you are a smoker, consider a subscription box for paraphernalia related to that. A full review of Daily High Club boast of offering a variety of supplies in each box. By subscribing, you can eliminate the need to run out at the last minute for supplies, and avoid unexpectedly running out of rolling papers, filter tips, and other items.
Find Purpose in Your Work
When you feel like you are doing good, creating value, or performing a task that makes life easier on others, including your coworkers, it is easier to continue to grind. If you don’t feel like your job has value, you must perform a great deal of repetitive labor as part of your job, or, worst of all, you feel like the company you work for is actively harmful or toxic, burnout is a real concern.
If your feelings are borderline, look for ways to find value in your work. Consider the way your duties benefit others. Volunteer for projects that allow you to stretch your skills or that pique your interest.
Deal with Stress
Stress is an unavoidable part of life. Work stress has a way of spilling over into your home life, while stress at home can make it more difficult to concentrate at work. Meditation, regular exercise, therapy, and just having someone to occasionally vent to are all ways to manage stress. Creating transition periods between work and home makes it easier to relax during the evening.
Create a purposeful routine when you get home, such as changing clothes, having a glass of water, sitting outside for a few minutes, or walking the dog around the block. Whatever you come up with, make it a habit, and soon you will find that your mind starts to make the switch between work and home more easily.
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