Janice’s Blog
Gratitude Goes a Long Way to Banish Organizational Burnout
What better way is there to engage employees than to make them feel good about their work life by showing gratitude?
There was a period of time not so long ago during the difficult recession of 2008 when many were happy simply to have a job, any job. Gone are those days when an employer shows gratitude by simply paying workers a fair wage for work done. Now vibrant benefits packages are a given. But all of that money invested and extra-fluffy add-on benefits mean nothing if a team member is being overworked, emotionally or verbally abused, or simply under-appreciated or neglected.
Volunteer to Banish Your Burnout
How do you feel after you have had a positive experience helping someone less fortunate? Have you ever taken a pet dog to visit the elderly or served food at a soup kitchen? Just seeing the recipients’ faces light up makes it all worthwhile. Have you ever noticed that full delighted feeling you feel after one of those experiences?
Five Ways to Overcome Burnout at Work
Millions of Americans are returning to work after being home during the pandemic. While this has been exciting for many, some are feeling burned out by their work. What do you do if you are feeling burned out by your work? How do you reverse it? How can you “get your mojo back”?
How can you tell if you burning out? Here are some of the signs: snapping at co-workers or family members, angry outbursts, sleep problems, digestive issues or feelings of resentment.
If you are experiencing burnout at work, here are five actions you can take.
Seven Ways to Find Your Happy
I contend that happiness can be called upon any time of the day, no matter how busy you are. We don’t normally associate happiness with busy-ness. However, many of us do find stimulation and satisfaction from our work. At the same time, how often do you stop to acknowledge just how satisfied and stimulated you are? In other words, during a stressful day, can you still find a moment to Find Your Happy?
What is an Emotionally Intelligent Manager?
In 1995 Daniel Goleman made the term emotional intelligence popular when his book, Emotional Intelligence remained on The New York Times bestseller list for a year and a half. According to Goleman there are five key elements of EQ, the popular moniker for emotional intelligence:
1) Self-awareness – knowing one’s strengths, weaknesses, drives, values and impact on others
2) Self-regulation – controlling impulses and moods
3) Motivation – loving achievement for achievement’s sake
4) Empathy – understanding others’ emotions
5) Social Skills – building rapport with others to move them in desired directions
Music Heals the Soul
Listening to music, as well as playing music, can be immensely therapeutic. The sound waves actually travel to your body and you “feel” the music, viscerally. Have you ever noticed that as soon as you hear one of your favorite pop or rock songs you begin to move to the beat? Simultaneously, the brain releases the happy chemical, dopamine so that one feels a sense of joy and enhanced mood and even euphoria.
Manage Mental Health to Ensure Your Organization Thrives
Managing mental health is one of the most difficult struggles for workplaces, especially in 2021 after one of the most difficult years our country and our workplaces ever experienced.
Quarantining during Covid-19 caused rates of loneliness to rise. This caused more burnout and sadly, suicide. Being isolated was one of the biggest sources of mental health issues during Covid.
On top of all of that stress, overwork was another huge problem. One example was that of moms of school-aged children, who worked extra long hours, attempting to keep up with not only their own work but that of their children.
Recruit an Accountability Partner to Banish Burnout
CEO’s have mastermind advisory groups. Managers have other managers from which to seek advice. Do you take advantage of having an accountability buddy?
If you are part of a team you hopefully have people around you, at least virtually, with which to talk to about work projects. You might find support in a teammate, a friend, or a mentor.
During Covid most of the workforce was sent home to shelter in place. Gone were the casual conversations you had over the water cooler, talking about sports or your favorite book or Netflix series.
Set Healthy Boundaries to Banish Burnout
Have you ever said yes to something you wish you had said no to, at work? Saying no at work seems overwhelming sometimes, but it doesn’t have to. It all depends on how you look at a situation and how you respond to it. Setting healthy boundaries is about declaring for yourself what you will and won’t accept from other people. This could be tasks or projects or favors you are asked to do. For example, what if your boss comes to you with an exciting new project that you are truly interested in...
Practice Self-Care to Banish Burnout
Self-care can encompass so many facets of our life. Self-care can refer to physical self-care like healthy eating, exercise, and sleep. It can also refer to mental self-care, which is equally if not more important than physical self-care. Mental self-care incorporates many different aspects from being kind to yourself, to seeking the help of a counselor or caring for yourself by practicing daily writing. Why is self-care one of the most important parts of banishing burnout? Because physical...