Four things you can do if your job depletes you
At the end of a year like we’ve had it’s understandable to feel a little run down, if not completely exhausted.
Let’s face it – just getting through everyday life can be tiring enough without the added stress of lockdowns and worries about a global pandemic thrown into the mix!
But what if you feel so exhausted that a summer holiday wouldn’t be enough for you to recover? If you have ruled out anything healthwise, you might want to consider whether your job is causing you to feel this way.
Many of the clients I see are completely drained by their jobs more than anything else, often to the point of burn out. Whether it is because of unreasonable workloads and under-resourcing, or because of the stress caused by a toxic or dysfunctional work environment or incompetent manager, a lack of leadership or clear direction … these things can all take a serious toll on one’s mental health and wellbeing.
Without the time to think about alternatives or the energy to change the situation, many wind up feeling completely stuck, at a loss about what to do.
If this sounds like you, here are some things you might want to think about over the holiday season to help you get unstuck:
REVIEW: What is standing in your way? If you are struggling to change your situation, is it because there are actual constraints or obligations that mean you have no choice or, if you unpack what’s really getting in your way, is it fear of leaping into the unknown? When I work with clients, nine times out of 10, fear and unhelpful thoughts are the biggest barrier to change. Becoming aware of the stories you might be telling yourself about why you can’t make a change is the first important step (for example; “I’m too old” “I should be grateful for what I’ve got”, or “It’s selfish to look for something I’ll enjoy”… and so on). Once you catch yourself having these unhelpful thoughts and accepting them for what they are (thoughts rather than reality), they are less likely to get in your way than if left in your subconscious, impacting your behaviour and choices.
REFLECT: What does your ideal work and lifestyle look like? It might not feel like a realistic option or exercise right now, but if you don’t envisage what good looks like, you won’t ever get to create it or recognize the best opportunities when they present themselves. Create a vision of the sustainable, balanced life you want to be living so you can begin taking steps towards creating it. This can also help you ensure your future work choices will take you in that direction.
REDEFINE: What does success looks like for you? As I said in my previous blog post, if you can articulate what success looks like for you – including the type of work environment in which you will thrive and the lifestyle that your work needs to enable you to have (see point 2) you will be a lot better at asserting and maintaining boundaries to protect your work and home life balance. When my clients do this, they are also more confident about making choices that are a good fit for them, and are therefore less swayed by other people’s opinions of what they ought to be doing. Redefining success from your own perspective of what good looks like at work can give you the courage and motivation you need to regain a sense of control and put yourself back in the driving seat of your career.
CLARIFY: What are your core values? Being able to articulate your core values – how you want to show up in the world and what truly matters to you – can give you immense courage and energy to follow through on goals that will take you towards a more values-driven work and life. It will also help you when you are doing your due diligence on any new employer or work opportunity.
If you would like help to get unstuck from an unrelenting work situation, get in touch.