What do you do if your work-life balance is suffering and burnout is looming?

If my work-life balance is suffering and burnout is looming, I would reassess my priorities, set boundaries, and communicate openly with my manager about workload and stress levels. I would prioritize self-care activities and seek support from colleagues or employee assistance programs if needed.

Your well-being is the number one priority and prioritising this is essential for long-term success and fulfillment. First acknowledge the signs of burnout such as exhaustion, mental fatigue & decreased productivity; then start to implement self-care strategies, including regular breaks, exercise, and mindfulness practices (prioritise activities that bring you joy & relaxation). Re-assess your priorities and set clear boundaries between work and personal time, allocating specific hours for each aspect of life. Seek support from colleagues, friends, or professionals. Communicate openly with managers about your workload; where possible delegate responsibilities...and learn to say no to additional commitments that take up your personal time.

It is common to not notice the first signs of burnout, to ignore them or even to blame yourself for things such as lack of concentration, drop in performance, feeling of detachment. And this is one of the (great) dangers of burnout! Being aware of these signs and others such as constant physical and mental fatigue, irritability and insomnia is essential. When you start to notice these signs, focus on yourself, reevaluate your routine to establish healthy limits and seek support from a mental health professional if necessary. Learning to practice self-compassion is also a great technique for dealing with difficult moments. It is not uncommon for burnout sets in without us even realizing it. Paying attention to the signs is crucial.

You need to understand that often, you may not recognise the signs of burnout. It is important for you to have a close group of work professionals that can talk with you about changes in your behaviour, work performance, and general demeanour. Build trust amongst a select group of coworkers, and your leadership and create regular check-ins to discuss your performance. Through these above steps, they can highlight the changes to you and then you can begin to take the necessary steps to rebalance. Remember, everyone’s work/life balance is different. Identify yours while making space for others to have their own. This is how a high performing team can cover each other and continue to succeed, while supporting the individuals needs.

I quickly rebalance when I sense my work-life balance tipping and burnout approaching. First, I reassess my priorities to focus on what truly matters. Setting clear boundaries between work and personal time is crucial, as is communicating openly with my team about workload and expectations. I make time for physical activity, hobbies, and socializing to maintain my well-being. Practicing mindfulness helps me stay aware of my stress levels. Additionally, I don't hesitate to seek external support from my own coach for fresh perspectives and coping strategies. It's all about taking proactive steps to manage my well-being and keep burnout at bay.

Learning to say 'No' empowers you to set healthy boundaries and focus on what's truly important. This simple act is key in avoiding burnout and ensuring you can commit your best efforts to your priorities. 1) Recognize Your Limits: Understand that your resources are limited, and respect those boundaries, saying 'No' to overcommitment. 2) Prioritize Effectively: Identify what matters most and focus your energy there, saying 'No' to lower-priority demands.

Establish clear boundaries between work and personal life. This might include setting specific work hours, not checking emails outside of those hours, and communicating your boundaries to your colleagues and managers.

Talk to your manager or HR department about your workload and concerns. They may be able to offer support, adjust your workload, or provide resources to help manage stress.

Make self-care a priority. This includes getting enough sleep, eating healthily, exercising regularly, and engaging in activities that bring you joy and relaxation.

Burnout is caused by a major, or a consistent mismatch between a person and their job, and it's caused by a combination of different factors: - Workload (too much workload, not enough resources) - Control (micromanagement, lack of influence, accountability without power) - Reward (not enough pay or acknowledgement or satisfaction) - Community (isolation, conflict, disrespect) - Fairness (discrimination, favoritism) - Values (ethical conflicts or meaningless tasks) Burnout is not a personal failure. It's a systemic failure. And identifying the source of burnout is the first step to addressing it not only for the employee, but also by the company, by reviewing its structures, culture and support systems.

Self-talk, creativity, sports, yoga, meditation, socializing, and even going for a walk can all have a positive impact on mental health.