How to Structure Your Year To Prevent Burnouts
PC: @dcopperman
Guys, don’t be like me. Don’t operate on a 100% go-go-go mindset until you burn out. And that’s not to say I didn’t take any time off—I did. Except, even my vacations felt like go-go-go! I needed to learn how to avoid burnout and balance my year on a holistic level, that way I wouldn’t crash as quickly as I normally would.
Burnout is inevitable—everyone experiences it at some point in their lives. No one person can continuously produce work without rest. It’s not just rest that the body needs, but inspiration as well. It needs to break out of routine and pull its face out of the clouds; see some new sights. And I’m not just talking about booking three vacations a year—there are adjustments you can make in your daily life at home that can keep burnout at bay, too. For everything else, we’ll get into how to plan out the year in a way that takes advantage of all the days off.
Before we begin, though, let’s remember that each body has a different tolerance level when it comes to work. Where one person thrives on the hustle and bustle, another might get crushed by it. I want us to find the optimal balance between productivity and rest, and it all starts by identifying what your body needs.
1. Know what energizes you, know what drains you
We talk about what it means to be “extroverted” and “introverted”. The first is defined as someone who gains energy by being in social situations, whereas the latter finds energy in quiet spaces. Neither of these definitions mean you can’t enjoy some peace and quiet or absolutely disdain social situations—it simply speaks to where you are able to recharge the best.
If you’re extroverted, make sure you have plenty of deep, meaningful one-on-one time with your friends and family. They are your source of energy and will bring you back to life when you feel drained. Make it a habit to call them and release any pent up negativity with a good chat.
If you’re introverted, reserve one day a week when you don’t go out, don’t see people, and fully tend to your mental garden. I tried to always keep my Sundays as a no-hangouts day. It is when I indulged in my one hour long post-shower routine, cleaned the apartment, read for hours in bed, journaled, and watched TV.
2. Grab your corporate calendar and start planning
Apparently both my roommates and my parents always did this, but when you get your corporate calendar at the beginning of the year, go right ahead and plan for the full 365 days ahead.
Take note of every three and four day weekend: These are the weekends you can book your short getaways. Rent a car and go to a neighboring state or fly down to Florida for some extra sunshine. You’ll be surprised just how many little trips you can squeeze into a year without taking a single day off.
Plan when and where you want to squeeze in a longer vacation: Maybe you want to tackle a few days onto one those long weekends and make a big trip out of it. Think about your summer vacations, your ski trips, and perhaps solo getaways and see where they should be placed. In my corporate job, I found that I needed a little “treat” in the form of a travel adventure every three months. So break up your 12 months into four sections and squeeze in a small or big getaway accordingly.
3. Once a month, do a self check-in
One of the biggest contributors to burnout, in my experience, is neglecting to do anything for yourself. Particularly if you work a traditional 9-5 job, the majority of your life is spent serving a bigger corporation. You’re giving and giving and giving and eventually you have nothing left to give—you’ve depleted your energy. I found that a good way to avoid this phenomena was by something for myself. For me, that meant working on this website. Where writing for my 9-5 job felt draining, writing for this website felt energizing: I knew I was doing something completely for myself. I invite you, therefore, to carve out some time once a month and do something that directly fuels your energy. Put the control back into your hands and feed your passions. Perhaps you want to start a pottery business, then go to a pottery class once a week and check in on your progress at the end of each month.
If you do all of this, you can avoid getting burnt out and manage a more balanced, healthy lifestyle.
