Cure Your Burnout!

Do you ever get those Sunday night blues? Dreading the week ahead, feeling the daily grind just draining away all of your energy before the week even starts? Or what about those days where you just feel like you are going through the motions and not really being present in your own life?

We've all been there ? burned out.

Recently I received the following email:

I work from a home office and my last year has been very busy. I've needed to put in some very long hours. Lately, I've been feeling pretty burned out. How can I rejuvenate my excitement in the work that I really do love? And any tips on how to avoid burn out in the first place?

Here are some ideas for a quick shot in the arm:

  • Enroll in a class or learn a new skill related to your field. Doing something new and out of the ordinary can be a great energizer. Don't have the budget for training? Check out www.teleclass.com; many of their offerings are free.

  • Change your routine. Try doing your usual morning activities in the afternoon and vice versa. This simple change can make a big difference.

  • Award yourself "comp time." If you were working at a corporate office you'd be rewarded with overtime pay or comparable time off from work. Be sure to do this for yourself. Schedule an afternoon to go to the zoo or meet a friend for lunch. You'll find when you are refreshed you work much more effectively. I'm sure you've heard this many times, but be sure you actually *do it*.

Suggestions for avoiding burn out:

  • Hate paying bills? Despise returning phone calls? Then why do it? Outsource those tasks that really drag you down and keep you from doing the activities you enjoy. Consider hiring a virtual assistant.

  • Reward yourself. A major cause of burnout is feeling like your hard work is not being recognized or appreciated. If you work at home and are your own boss, you may not be getting the kudos you deserve. When you land a big client, treat yourself to a professional massage or dinner at a nice restaurant. When you do something significant, print out a certificate of achievement for yourself and display it where you can see it.

Don't allow yourself to be a burnout victim! Take action today or prevent or treat your burnout -- both you and your business will benefit.

About The Author

Written by Megan Corwin, Personal Coach. Visit www.megancorwin.com or email megan@megancorwin.com to schedule your complimentary 30-minute coaching session and to find out how a personal coach can help you have more time and energy for the things you enjoy.

In The News:


Manuel: Mets need no motivation
MLB.com - Jul 4, 2008
"For me, there are certain games that I have to say something motivational," Manuel said. "It cannot be against the Phillies. ... What else can I say? ...

Clear Motivation
Winston-Salem Journal, NC - 5 hours ago
Tamara Doucette, a graduate student, takes a flow measurement in Paine Run in Shenandoah National Park. By Carlos Santos SYRIA, Va. - SYRIA, Va. ...

Los Angeles Times

Olympic champion Kitajima says Hansen may have lacked motivation
International Herald Tribune, France - Jul 4, 2008
... Kitajima said US swimmer Brendan Hansen's failure to make the Olympic team in the 200-meter breaststroke may have resulted from a lack of motivation. ...
Hansen may have lacked motivation in 200m flop: Kitajima ABC Online
Kitajima Claims Hansen Not Motivated Swimnetwork.com
Lohn: Hansen never has trouble responding The Delaware County Times
all 449 news articles

ABC News

Money not always players' sole motivation
FOXSports.com - Jul 4, 2008
by Mike Kahn Ever since the popularity of the NBA exploded during the 1980s, along with the exceptional growth of the soft salary cap, unrestrained free ...
Which teams are poised for a big turnaround? FOXSports.com
all 1,197 news articles

For real estate adviser, motivation comes between buying and ...
NewsOK.com (subscription), OK - 4 hours ago
AP Video •Requirements: Work with property owners, buyers, investors, other real estate brokers, perhaps architects, engineers and contractors. ...

Finding the motivation to exercise
The Southern, IL - Jul 5, 2008
Yet finding the motivation to actually drag ourselves to the gym or say no that extra slice of apple pie takes effort. "When we look at how many calories ...

Emma's bravery is fantastic motivation
Malvern Gazette, UK - Jul 4, 2008
... Worcester Royal Hospital just five weeks before the race, it gave the other three even greater motivation to show their support by completing the event. ...

RE[2]: Well done Eugenia!
OS News - 9 hours ago
Progress takes time and motivation, and I don't see many people offering to pay any developers to go to work on this particular issue. ...

New-Age Sales-Team Motivation: Quality of Work Life
NewsFactor Network, CA - Jul 3, 2008
By Jonathan Farrington In terms of personal motivation, employees ask these questions: Do I achieve? Am I contributing? Am I given increased responsibility? ...

Rice desperate to reclaim IM world mark
ABC Online, Australia - 11 hours ago
Australian swimmer Stephanie Rice says having her world record broken has given her new motivation for the Olympic Games. American Katie Hoff broke Rice's ...
motivation - Google News

To Boldly Go

For the first time in many years, Star Trek Fans... Read More

How to Stay Motivated

You've read a book that motivates you to action; you've... Read More

Pushing Through Your Comfort Zone

Our greatest growth in life comes from pushing through our... Read More

Hanging On In There - How To Carry On When Your Motivation Is Flagging

"I will persist until I succeed. Always will I take... Read More

Instant Willpower

We've all heard people say "I have a system". Ever... Read More

STOP! Reading the Headlines and Live Your Own Life First

Imagine! 40 is old. The California State Supreme Court has... Read More

Life Rewards Action

Thinking is good, yes it is. I strongly encourage thinking.... Read More

Prime That Pump! Part 2

In Part 1 of this article, we talked about reaching... Read More

Rules To Live Life By

How often have we heard ourselves complaining about how unlucky... Read More

Anchors Away!

If we want to fill our heads with the doom... Read More

How to Take Your Stalled Projects to the Finish Line

Q. I have several projects going at once -- but... Read More

Ten Terrific Self Motivating Tips

No one can motivate anyone to do anything. All a... Read More

Ignite The Fire In Your Belly ? How To Move From Being A Procrastinator To An Activator!

Are you sick and tired of not getting ahead and... Read More

Making the Invisible Visible: The WOW Behind the HOW!

"We must be the change we wish to see in... Read More

Are You Ready To Make A Strong Finish?

Talk about a strong finish! In their inspiring story of... Read More

Remember, Worse Things Can Happen At Sea, So..... Dont Ever Quit!

Throughout the many pages of scores of motivational books, with... Read More

10 Ways to Kick the Procrastination Habit

I recently read about a survey (by the University of... Read More

Motivtion: The Power of Responsibility

One of the things I've noticed about successful people is... Read More

Ignite Your Life!

Where have you come from this past year? What have... Read More

Daily Motivation: 7 Methods

Isn't a lack of daily motivation one of the biggest... Read More

Your Life Just OK? It Doesnt Have To Be That Way! Live the Life You Really Want To Live!

I have some questions for you. Are you ready? How... Read More

The Downward Spirals Of Life - Top Ten Steps For Freeing Ourselves From

Some people call them vicious circles or cycles. I prefer... Read More

Moving Beyond Your Comfort Zone

Many professionals have attained a high level of competence in... Read More

What Is The Value In Wanting To Accomplish Something?

When I listen to people tell me about some of... Read More

Harnessing the Power of the Unknown: Move from Repeating the Past to Re-inventing the Future

The Unknown - it is scary territory for many, something... Read More