How to spot job burnout and take action

A few years ago, I landed my dream job – the big break I’d been waiting for – and I wasn’t going to squander it. I may not be the smartest or most talented person at the table but I’ll earn my keep with my Energizer Bunny work ethic. Staying late every night, working weekends and obsessively worrying about what others think of me are part of my DNA.

But being a workaholic isn’t sustainable. In fact, it’s not a smart, healthy or attractive long term strategy. If we’re not careful, our passion for our work can sour and we’re left 20 pounds heavier, exhausted and maybe even divorced because we’ve done nothing but work.

The company I’d landed the dream job with went bankrupt before I was blessed with those gifts. But I’ve seen lots of people I look up to and admire suffer that fate – getting exactly what they wished for… I’ve come to learn that while sacrifice and success are siblings, always giving into the first doesn’t necessarily guarantee happiness of the second.

If you’ve traded your bright-eyed and bushy tailed self for someone you no longer recognize, it’s time to get off that crash course to burnout city. Need some help? These resources are a good place to start.

Why multitasking blocks your best ideas

Many people get their best ideas at unpredictable times, as this week’s Work & Family column shows – in the bathtub, driving home or sipping whiskey late at night in the office. But those who juggle numerous work and family roles face an added obstacle, research shows: All the multitasking they do tends to block out new ideas. Read more at The Wall Street Journal.

How to survive burnout

Have you been feeling like you may be suffering from burnout? Whether it has been caused by work issues, stress at home, relationship challenges, or a combination of all them, it can give you a frightening feeling of hopelessness! Burnout often causes feelings of numbness and a sense of lost-ness in not knowing how to get your life headed back in the right direction. But, hope is not lost! There are a few strategies you can utilize to help you relieve some of the symptoms that come with the feeling of being burned out. Read more at MartinaMcgowan.com.

What really happens when you extend a deadline

What happens when we move back deadlines — once we get past the initial feeling of sweet relief? Research suggests we have a lot of difficulty using our newly-found time wisely. We wind up facing the same problem again — the same time pressure, the same stress, the same feeling-not-quite ready — only now we’ve gone an additional week, or month, or year without reaching an important goal. Read more at HarvardBiz.com.

7 secrets of highly happy people

Happiness is not something easily measured. After all, it is truly in the eyes of the beholder, and depends so much on our perspective of life. Happiness is not a one-size-fits-all concept. That being said, there are some common elements of highly happy people. Happy people who have unlocked the secrets of happiness have the seven characteristics below. How many do you have? Read more at LifeHack.com.

 I’d love to hear how you feel about burnout and you’ve turned things around in your career.  Let’s continue the conversation on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn (whichever one works best for you) or leave a comment below.