And I’m back! I bet you thought I was gone forever. Nope! I had to make some hard decisions in order to make it through the past month, and I decided to wait until I could write decent content about the things I cared about rather than throw out fluff. With that, I’m happy to introduce this week’s topic “The Administrative Burnout.”
Burning out is a problem and because of the pandemic, it seems like people are doubly burned out with the combination of work and general life. There’s just too much to juggle, and the weight of it all is overwhelming. Furthermore, it’s the type of weight that doesn’t have a clear ending date, so the uncertainty of it makes it harder to deal with. Why can’t this virus have a deadline date? Rude.
While most industries work on a cycle, administrative work is a constant. Sometimes you’re more (or a lot more) busy than others, but even in normal circumstances, you still have a lot of things to do. When “busy season” is over, you are the one dealing with the aftermath, normal duties, and preparing for the next onslaught.
There’s no actual break.
If you’re not just lacking motivation, but feel you’re heading towards burning out then that’s a whole different ball game. So, I’m going to discuss some of my experiences I noticed recently, and tips I tried to help minimize that feeling of administrative burnout.
Therapist
I believe I’ve mentioned it before, and I’ll mention it again (and forever). Having a therapist that you like and trust can be super helpful. Therapy is a great way to unload all the things that you need to get off your chest. An impartial person who is specifically trained and available to take in your “stuff” can be like gold!!
Talking about all the things that are bothering you and your current circumstances can be a weightlifting experience. Therapists can help you avoid administrative burnout by helping you cope with it, moderate/manage its effects, and even simply identify that it’s happening.
No, therapy doesn’t mean you’re crazy. You’re simply “checking in” with yourself to help make sure you’re mentally and emotionally ready to continue tackling the world and defending your place in it.
You go to a dentist to check on your teeth, and you check in with a doctor to check on your body. Why not talk to a therapist to check in on your mind and emotions?
Take a Step Back
Okay, I know there are some of you (if not all of you) who become attached to your job. It might not even be the job itself, but maybe an aspect of your job instead. I think that’s awesome, and it shows that your intentions and interest in going your best are genuine.
However, if elements of the job are stressing you out (leading to administrative burnout), it might be an excellent exercise to take a step back.
I’m not saying “give up.” I’m suggesting that you consider reevaluating your situation and ask yourself what’s really important, and would an alternative have that much of a negative impact on the big picture? Sometimes when we’re really involved, we can forget there might be other solutions that could yield similarly good results. And that’s okay too.
Attitudes/Don’t Take on Problems
It seems like people are losing their minds of late. You don’t have to know exactly why but our current circumstances (ie: pandemic restrictions) can be having a serious impact on your colleagues.
Feel free to handle negative situations in whatever way you feel comfortable, but please try to take a step back and realize that someone may just be having a hard time. It’s not an excuse, and it’s not okay. I only want to encourage you to recognize that their words might not have anything to do with you, and if you don’t feel it’s valid. Drop it.
EASIER SAID THAN DONE…even for me, but I try.
It still grates on my nerves though, and am fully aware that holding on to my irritation of these things only weighs me down.
Try Out a Hobby
In earlier posts, I told you I took up knitting, and I do not regret it. A hobby can help to shift your mind from all the normal work stuff to an almost meditative state. It can give you opportunities to focus completely on something else, not work or tasks, just the hobby.
Getting your mind off of stressors, even for a little while, can be a good break. If you’re worried about something from work, a hobby that can distract you from overly focusing on work is a saving grace. Try out some new ideas!
Lastly, if your hobby leaves you with a tangible result, like knitting, then you kinda feel like a badass when you’re done or made a lot of progress. The feeling of accomplishing/completing a project or something that you can be proud of can be a huge mood booster.
Endorphins pumping over good things can help to reduce reduce administrative burnout.
PS – Decluttering/reogranizing your desk can also be a wonderful way to “reset” too! But don’t get sucked into working. If there’s something you want to look into later, put it in a “look at it later” pile.
Do Nothing
If you are one of those magical people who has mastered the art of doing nothing. I totally respect you, and am wholeheartedly jealous of you and your ability.
As for me, I suck at doing nothing. I am the type of person who feels good by accomplishing tasks, being productive, and pushing myself. Doing nothing does not come naturally to me, but I’m practicing.
For example, pick a good show and binge watch for a whole weekend. Don’t clean the house, don’t sweep, don’t do any items on your to-do list. Just be.
Learning how to do nothing is a very awkward place for me to exist, but I still try – and so can you. I’m also open to tips for how to do this, feel free to offer suggestions!
Va/Stay-cation
Vacations are magical. I am also one of those unfortunate people who suffer from rarelytakevacation-itis. I know I should and I need to, but I am always held back because I dread the tsunami of emails and tasks sure to greet me upon my return.
That makes staying at work more attractive than actually taking a vacation most of the time.
BUT if you are one of those people not afflicted with this horrible disease, then consider planning and taking a vacation throughout the year. I know travel isn’t as open as it used to be but a staycation can also be really lovely too! You can order food every day and sleep in late. Start drinking at 11 am with mimosas and keep the fun times rolling!
Existing without a mandatory to-do list can be an awesome way to minimize administrative burnout.
A Vacation Alternative: Add an Extra Day
If you are afflicted with that disease, you can try my tried-and-true strategy of adding an extra day (or two) to/around the weekend.
I never feel like a weekend is a sufficient amount of time for a break from work. By the time you’ve caught up on your sleep, you’re preparing to go right back to work again.
By tacking on an additional day or two, you only are missing two days for four consecutive days of rest.
Take a “Task” Break
My last idea is to take a break from certain tasks on your personal list. It’s okay to take a break from your personal to-do list.
Typically, when I do this, I feel a sense of disappointment because I couldn’t “handle it all.” But the reality is you’re not a machine, and, perhaps, you might’ve simply added too much to your list in the first place.
I had to take a break from writing this blog because I simply had too much going on. No one died from not reading an entry, and I could complete other projects on my list.
I felt a lot of guilt and worry at first. Guilt because I want to run a consistent and reliable blog. Worry because I didn’t want this break to be the reason I never came back to it.
But turns out, the break helped me to clear out the mental clutter so I could create the best content I can and the time to put all my thoughts down.
And here I am, back with all of you to again, and I couldn’t be happier!!
I hope you all enjoyed my list of ideas to help with administrative burnout. If you liked this post, please consider joining my email list.
Photo by Kinga Cichewicz on Unsplash
