Striking the Balance: 10 Tips for Managing Burnout While Building Your Career

Wealthspire

Like millions of folks around the world, my life took a complete turn in April of 2020. Within seven days, I went from living and working in a bustling city to working from a dining room table at my family home in rural western Washington.

Without consistent days in an office and social gatherings with coworkers and friends, the lines between work and “life” began to blur. Between TV, social media and podcasts, the never-ending cycle of bad news felt constant. The feelings of isolation, overwhelm and burnout began to set in – and I wasn’t alone. According to a February 2021 survey by Indeed, two-thirds of workers claimed that burnout increased during the pandemic. Furthermore, APA’s 2021 Work and Well-being Survey found nearly 3 in 5 employees reported negative impacts from work-related stress, including lack of interest, motivation or energy (26%) and lack of effort at work (19%).

As the world began to “open up” again in late 2021, a light appeared at the end of the tunnel. Days and evenings began to shift back to what we once called “normal.” Our West Coast team even gathered for our first in-person retreat in 18 months (see below)!

We felt the beginnings of a return to normalcy, but as many have attested, our new normal isn’t quite the same. Lingering feelings of burnout and exhaustion are partially to blame, and these feelings can impede productivity, social engagement and make it harder to feel motivated about what’s ahead. As we look ahead, how do we combat burnout while still managing and building our careers as young professionals? Here are some tips to get you started.

1. Manage Notifications and the Stream of Media

An important first step in managing burnout is taking control of the constant stream of communication. When we’re unable to turn this off, it can be hard to give ourselves a break. Use settings like “quiet time,” time limits and “do not disturb” to regulate this.

2. Schedule Downtime Throughout the Day

It can be easy, if not inevitable, for calendars to quickly fill with meetings. It isn’t uncommon to find yourself in hours of virtual meetings a day, creating a special type of exhaustion known now as “Zoom fatigue.” Try blocking out 15 to 45 minutes each day for projects, goal setting and strategizing.

3. Prioritize Social Connections With Colleagues

Numerous studies have touted the importance of relationships for our health and longevity. A readily available source of social connection can be the people you’re collaborating and partnering with each day. Consider nurturing a virtual (or in-person) connection with a coworker or two; we often host virtual happy hours with folks across offices, which fosters collaboration and closer connections both online and offline.

4. Stay Flexible with Social Engagements

While relationships are an important component of our daily lives, they also can be a source of stress or anxiety. When you’re finding yourself pulled in too many directions between friends, work and time alone, stay flexible! We’re collectively experiencing and navigating burnout, so if you want to reschedule evening plans or a weekend brunch, your friends will understand.

5. Take Time to Truly Unplug

Technological innovations have enabled us to stay connected across the globe and have bolstered productivity throughout lockdown. However, the dark side of these instantaneous connections can be the desire to respond to an email at 11 p.m. on a Tuesday or make ourselves available on scheduled OOO days. While responsiveness and reliability are important components of building a career, make sure you allow yourself time to truly unplug, stepping away from emails and calls, trusting team members to jump in as needed, and giving yourself space to decompress.

 6. Know When to Say Yes…

In the early stages of our careers, it’s common to be excited about the countless opportunities that come our way. However, burnout reminds us that despite wanting to do it all, there just aren’t enough hours in the day. As opportunities present themselves, take a moment to consider the following:

  • Am I truly feeling passionate about this?
  • How does this fit within my current schedule and time commitments?
  • Are there other projects I am more interested in at this time?
  • What skills will I build with this project?
  • What are the trade-offs I should consider before saying yes?

7. …And No

Sometimes, an opportunity may come to us that we simply can’t turn down, despite an already-full schedule – and that’s OK. A key component to managing burnout is being flexible and saying yes when it’s right, but accepting when it’s time to say no.

8. Mindfulness (Meditation)

Taking time out of each day to reset and center ourselves can be another helpful tool to combat burnout. There are countless apps, videos and podcasts that can walk you through a guided meditation in as little as two or three minutes. Meditation and mindfulness apps saw nearly 4 million downloads in April 2020, a 17.6% increase from just four months prior. So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, frustrated or fatigued, take a few moments to reset. You won’t be alone!

9. Prioritize Sleep

While sleep is obviously a necessity, it also can be an important aspect of ensuring productivity and keeping fatigue at bay. The exact amount of sleep needed varies from person to person, but the Sleep Foundation recommends between seven and nine hours of sleep per night for the average adult. This ensures our bodies and brains can recover from an active, stimulating day.

10. Allow Space for Burnout – Acknowledge It and Bring It to the Forefront

Arguably the most important tool in combating burnout is to first acknowledge its existence. A colleague of mine often reminds me, “Don’t suffer in silence.” One positive effect of increased burnout has been the heightened awareness and dialogue around it, and around how individuals and organizations can better address it. The World Health Organization even officially recognized burnout as an occupational health issue in 2019.

As feelings of burnout creep in, take time to acknowledge them. Validate these feelings and have a conversation about them. You’re not alone in these feelings and you’re now equipped with a few tools to help combat them.


Julie Penwell

Julie Penwell is a Financial Advisor at Wealthspire Advisors. Julie found her way to wealth management through a strong passion for helping others and a longtime interest in financial planning. She serves clients across the West Coast and is eager to help clients understand their overall financial picture.