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Bravado Academy
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Burnout

You’re not alone. Learn how to find your spark again when you’re stuck in a rut, and how to keep that feeling alive in the long run.

Posted by Bravado

By: @CuriousFox

I’ve tried writing this article several times over the last week. Each time I’d get distracted and forget, which has caused me to write this piece moments before the deadline. Procrastination at its finest? Or am I suffering from burnout?
stares at screen for 20 minutes before typing another sentence

Do you feel:

  • Unappreciated or unseen by your manager
  • Physically sick more often than normal
  • Apathetic and disengaged — fast irritability with clients and co-workers
  • Hopeless — no longer feel accomplished or happy when tasks are completed
  • Did you close a deal you’ve poured your soul into only to be asked what’s next with no recognition?
  • Are you spending more time on admin/busy work to avoid making cold calls?
  • Do you suffer from insomnia because you can’t stop thinking about the KPIs you missed that day?
  • Do you spend more time in online anonymous forums rather than prospecting?

You may be suffering from burnout.

The good news? Once we recognize the signs we can begin to recover and move forward.

Here are some practical tips on preventing and managing burnout:

Frequent breaks

Set small frequent calendar breaks throughout the day to get up, stretch, and have zero screen time.

Exercise

Start out slow. Try walking for 20 minutes.

PTO

Take your PTO days, preferably go somewhere in nature. A full break. No peeking at emails. Hide all company paraphernalia.

Practice kindness

Give someone a small compliment. Hold a door open for someone. You’ll make that person’s day and feel better about yourself in the process.

Focus on relationships

Maintain close friendships outside of work and consider speaking with a therapist.

But, ultimately, all of these tactics won’t be enough if the work that you’re doing is no longer in line with your career goals, your values, or the activities that fundamentally make you happy.

When you’re at the point where you’ve meditated, exercised, and spent a week in Yosemite, but you still find yourself dreading Mondays, it’s time to ask yourself:

  • What used to motivate me about this job?
  • What's my long-term career goal and how will my current role/job help me get there?
  • What are the things about my job that bring me joy vs drain my energy? How can I do more of the former and less of the latter?

The answer might be that you still love sales, you still love helping customers find the right solution for them, but this company is no longer the right fit for you. Or maybe you’ve gotten sick of the roller coaster ride of selling, and you’d prefer to be in a more stable role. Either way, the only way out may be to face those demons and take the scary step of leaving your job or leaving sales altogether.

Regardless of what you’re going through, remember you are not alone, and you absolutely matter. Instead of throwing yourself in front of a Jeep (I think of this sketch more than I’d like to admit) reach out to your friends in the War Room. We are here to help lift each other up.

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