Light at the End of Burnout: Using Connections/Relationships

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For my personal development, I take more of an explorative approach rather than quick definitive fixes on TikTok or Reddit. Two phenomena that I have really appreciated as counterpoise mechanisms to burnout are connections and productivity.

The two elements offer me accomplishment regarding my personal life and work life. Helping me strike a healthy balance between play and work, rest and stimulation, between fulfillment and achievement. Let’s explore one theme below:

USING CONNECTIONS/RELATIONSHIPS TO PREVENT BURNOUT

Burnout is acutely tied to motivational aspects. One of the popular motivational theories is the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. A pyramid ranking 5 of the most important human beings’ needs as Physiological (food and clothing), Safety and Security, Love and Belonging, Esteem, and Self-actualization. The effects of burnout can interfere with meeting all the ‘living essentials’ listed. Love and belonging however can be used as a counter-mechanism.

All Work and No Play makes Jack a Dull Boy is not just a saying but a socially proven fact. Nurturing a potent social life can lend you a powerful support system while giving you a sense of belonging. What makes that stressful day/week better for most of us, is that drink after work on Fridays or ile udaku on your breaks. Go to X on Friday and the top advice from KOX is “Funga io laptop, ni Friday” and“Uko Wapi?”.

Creating lifelong friendships offers you a chance to blow off some steam, celebrate, and even a shoulder to lean on the days you can’t stand to face the world. Building rich social ties will help mitigate the effects of burnout. Here’s how and why:

PROVIDING EMOTIONAL SUPPORT: Trusted connections give you a place to vent or speak on your feelings, offering validation and an escape from stress. That feeling of being supported, understood, and seen at your workplace can prevent burnout and you can create that by building friendships at or away from work.

CULTIVATING A NETWORK: Being isolated at work can easily overwhelm you. No one to ask for feedback, no one to delegate work to, and no one to challenge for growth, can make for a boring and stressful work environment. Creating a network of connections at work can help you be more effective and productive lessening pressure at work.

OFFERING WORK-LIFE BALANCE: Creating a group of friends that you can engage in your hobbies with or have fun with will give you an escape from work-related stress. Ask yourself, who am I away from work?

EMBRACING MENTORS: Having someone to look up to for advice or inspiration is vital for your dark days and ultimate dominance. Investing in getting mentors can help visualize a road map for your success which gives you more guidance and self-trust preventing doubt which is stress-inducing. They have done it before, so can you.

While workplace friendships are recommended, they can also be a source of drama. When chasing love and belonging especially in our workplaces, setting your and respecting others’ boundaries is also vital. People can uplift you as fast as they can drain you. You must communicate your limits, avoid over-commitment, and learn to say no. That will prevent drama and extra commitments that can make your burnout worse.

Introverts and homebodies can also use their own self-connection to prevent burnout effects. Self-connection means understanding oneself; Your needs, values, priorities, and emotions. Extroverts can also use self-connection to balance their more social-leaning tendencies. Your will and mentality are your internal gifts to counter burnout. Here’s how we can strengthen our internal vitality through connecting with self:

CREATING AWARENESS: Meditating before work can be a great way to structure and stabilize your day. Helping you know how you feel, and what to prioritize. Journaling after work can help decompress and understand better the feelings and accomplishments throughout the day, putting everything into perspective. Both these practices can help you feel more in control of your day-to-day impact and aware of possible triggers that stress you out.

ESTABLISHING COPING MECHANISMS: How do you react to stress? How do you feel when you burn out? Understanding our emotions helps us know how to cope. When overwhelmed would you rather take a walk or people watch at your desk? Does taking a smoke break help you feel relaxed? Or Does it make everything pressurized? Active coping is crucial in alleviating burnout. It helps sort issues there and then rather than carrying them through your workday and back home.

HAVING YOUR VALUES AND GOALS: Growth is significant in making you fulfilled at your workplace. Knowing your values and goals helps you stay motivated and grounded. Your values will help you know whether you are in the right work environment and with the right people. Joyriding is the easiest way to have a negative mindset and invite feelings of unfulfillment that lead to burnout.

PRIORITIZE YOUR WELL-BEING: Physical and mental well-being are crucial to no burnout at work. Being fit means more energy. Feeling exhausted means you need rest. Celebrating your wins leaves you more inspired. Sleeping on time means healthier days. Binge drinking and partying leaves you drained and uninspired.

MAKE YOUR HOME YOUR SANCTUARY: Create a YOU space to help you decompress and turn off your mind from work.

By nurturing supportive relationships, we create a buffer against stress and build a network of emotional resilience. Simultaneously, cultivating self-connection through mindful self-awareness and compassionate self-care helps us to recognize and address our needs proactively. Together, these external and internal connections form an important framework that not only counters the debilitating effects of burnout but also enhances our overall well-being and enriches our lives with a sense of purpose and belonging.