You worked tirelessly. Pounded the phone. And fired off emails day and night. All to crush your first quarter sales goal. And now that you’ve succeeded, you may struggle moving onto the next.
Harvard Business Review author Ron Friedman writes, “When the constant sense of urgency we’ve adapted to comes to an abrupt halt, we experience withdrawal.” Symptoms of burnout may include procrastination, cynicism and lack of motivation. How do you avoid burnout? The HBR Blog suggests:
- Manage expectations. Tell yourself upfront that it’s normal to feel exhausted, and getting back to the daily grind may take effort you just don’t have. Knowing this can help prevent the self-blame that makes burnout that much worse.
- Recharge your energy. You might not have the luxury of bolting for the Bahamas. Instead, find other ways to build up your energy levels. Schedule walk breaks. Turn off your email after work hours. And hit the gym.
- Get cranking on the next goal. One surefire way to avoid burnout? Take your mind off the past, and start working toward a new milestone to stay motivated. Even if it’s a 10-minute phone call with a prospect or follow-up email, carve out time each day to work toward your new goal.
Read more tips on surviving burnout on the HBR Blog.