Do you tend to spread yourself too thin and take on more than you can handle?
Your schedule is typically filled weeks in advance and you’re always running out and about doing things that drain your energy mentally, emotionally, and physically, as you tackle through each day.
You overwork yourself to meet heavy workloads and tight deadlines, taking little to no breaks and you find yourself overwhelmed and exhausted.
Your mind is restless, your body tense, and an uneasy feeling grows in your chest—all of which are clear signs that you’re burnt out.
It’s okay to feel burnt out—we’ve all been there.
It’s not just about managing your time, but managing your energy.
Here are 3 simple ways to prioritize your energy better so you will feel a lot less stressed out:
Do One Big Thing a Day
If you have a never-ending To Do list and spend a lot of time deciding on which task to tackle first—but end up getting little to nothing done at all—then you need to set some realistic goals for yourself each day. Set a goal to work on one big task a day (instead of multi-tasking) to increase concentration and productivity. You’ll be able to prioritize your tasks better, achieve a greater quality of work, and not beat yourself up for not completing other smaller tasks for the day.
Spend 15 minutes on a Task
If you’re anything like me and you have a short attention span similar to that of a goldfish—then the goal to focus on a task for 15 minutes is a must-try to get more done everyday. This technique works best for smaller tasks that don’t require a lot of time (less than 15 minutes) such as checking and responding to emails and writing out your to-do list. It also works for bigger tasks too as the goal is to start with a minimum of 15 minutes. Over time you can set a goal to build up that time and get in the zone.
Reach Out to Your Personal Support System
As we all know, communication is key to every relationship—and the longest relationship you have is one with yourself. You need to learn to become more self-aware and practice self-love by scheduling time for yourself. But it also helps to reach out to your personal support system—whether it be your family, friends, colleagues, and mentors to hold you accountable for your goals or do work with you at public spaces.
Take advantage of any work perks you might have such as the Employee Assistance Program as speaking with a professional will not only provide you with assistance on different situations but a different perspective. Sometimes, we just need someone to be there to listen.
If your current state is affecting your work performance and you’re struggling to live in the present moment, then find out why you’re burnt out. Figure out what depletes your energy and manage your energy on what matters most, using various techniques as trial-and-error to prevent being burnt out.
Originally published at Live Your Potential (LYP). The LYP Women’s Leadership and Career Development Program empowers, educates and enables professional women to live their fullest potential through high-impact programs and events, and a community of like-minded women.