Dealing With Work Burnout

It truly comes as no surprise when people say that they are experiencing a burnout at their workplace, this is truly something serious and something you should be taking corrective actions on. In Malaysia, there is a huge number of people talking about the fact that they are experiencing work burnout, due to several different reasons. It is mainly due to the fact that many of these workplaces move at a fast pace, and some just need some additional time to cope with it all, including the workplaces in Malaysia. Advertising, marketing, PR, and design are all of those industries that seem to pride themselves on how hard they make their employees work. There is a famous saying that has been used by many creative directors and executives over the years, if you do not come in on Saturday, do not bother showing up on Sunday. Basically, if you are not ready to work in a sweatshop, we do not want you. However, due to the advent of social media, the problem has increased tremendously. Now, advertising messages are being pushed out around the clock, and it is not all automated. Someone has to be doing it, and it is leading to more stress, poor health, and things much worse. This is truly unacceptable. You need to realize that your job is not your life, and it should never be responsible for anyone taking theirs. So, if you tend to feel like it is all becoming too much, you need to take a breath, try and relax yourself, and go through the following tips. They could truly save more than just your sanity. In this article, we will be going over a few ways that you could opt for in order to deal with work burnout!

STOP WORKING.
Seriously, just stop working for a while. Have a talk with your manager as soon as possible and take a break. Not a five minute break, and not just a couple of days at home. You will need a complete and total cut off from work. You should explain why, and without sounding like you are whining or getting emotional. Be rational, lay out all of the reasons why you deserve a break, and why you will become an even better employee when you return to work. Ideally, you should be off for at least two weeks, and you should make sure that you have no contact with the office. Do not make yourself available for calls either. Do not even check your emails. If at all possible, find somewhere to go that is the complete opposite of any sort of work, and do whatever that will make you genuinely happy. If that is laying on a beach drinking cocktails, climbing mountains, or even white water rafting, go ahead and do it. If you do not have any vacation days left, simply ask for an unpaid leave. You will just have to find a way to make everything work. This is your life, and if you do not do this soon, you could be suffering in so many different ways.

FIND A RELEASE.
For some people, it may be CrossFit or even martial arts. For others, it is paintball battles, soccer, racquetball, or maybe even bowling. Many people tend to enjoy video games, while others prefer a shooting range or even a dozen laps of the pool. The way you tend to release your aggression and frustration is not important, as long as it is not harmful to yourself or the others. What matters here is that you find a way, any way, to just let off some steam. Right now, you are a pressure cooker. If you do not open that release valve from time to time, you are bound to explode. Perhaps not literally, but you will crack emotionally, have outbursts, or maybe even do something from which your career may never fully recover.

TAKE A BREAK FROM ALCOHOL & CAFFEINE.
A lot of people tend to deal with the stresses and strains of a hectic work life by turning to the bottle or even dosing up on coffee, energy drinks, cigarettes, and so much more. While these can often be helpful in moderation, keep in mind that you can quickly become dependent upon them, especially if you are using them to cope with a heavy workload, and especially if that workload just keeps getting bigger and bigger. And if you get hooked, you will end up in trouble. Although something as naive as coffee, or caffeinated drinks, may just seem harmless, they can be quite damaging. They can rob you of the much needed sleep you need, and also put undue strain on your heart. And we are all well aware about the dangers of alcohol and even tobacco. So, while you may think that you need them more than ever, try finding something else. Something which is healthy for you.

ASK FOR DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES.
Work burnout in advertising agencies can not only happen from overwork but also due to working on the same few clients for months at a time. Just as the old saying goes, a change is as good for you as a rest, so have a talk with your manager about taking on different responsibilities. Maybe you could move on to a different account? Could you work with clients who will require you to leave the office more for things such as meetings, shoots, and also events? Could you maybe swap accounts with someone else who is feeling worn out as well? If you are good at your job, the agency will most certainly not want to lose you. It may cost up to 400 percent more than your annual salary just to replace you, especially if you are a talented creative, and the agency would much rather put your skills to better use on a different account rather that seeing you walk.

SHARE THINGS WITH SOMEONE CLOSE.
Another good way to relieve a little pressure is by sharing your problems, thoughts, and concerns with someone who genuinely cares about your well being. It could possibly be a spouse, a son or daughter, your best friend, a neighbor, or even a trusted co worker, but do not go spilling the beans to someone who is notorious for spreading gossip or use the information against you. They do not even have to be in the same industry as you, and they do not need to understand exactly what it is you do. But what they can do is be a shoulder for you to cry on, which is often all you need in order to release some of that bottled up frustration and despair. If you cannot find anyone who you would want do this way, your other option is by writing a letter to the person, or people, that are actually adding to your burnout. The boss, a co worker, or even a client. Jot down everything that you want to say. Do not actually send it to them. This is merely some exercise for you to get some of those issues off your chest.

FIND WAYS TO MAKE WORK FUN & INTERESTING.
In both advertising and design, when you are busy on exciting projects it can alleviate some of the problems that tend to come with an exhaustive schedule. Yes, you are busy, but you are having so much fun that it is not an issue. However, when you are burning the candle at both ends on projects that do nothing to inspire you, that is when burnout can truly take hold. When this happens, try finding ways to make the jobs that you are working on more fun. One creative approach that is used by copywriters and as well as art directors is by challenging each other to get specific words or phrases into the ads, or try getting hot air balloon or goat rodeo into dry copy about some insurance. Try making it a game. It may possibly also get rejected. It may even pass without anyone noticing. And it could maybe even sell more product.

WORK AWAY FROM YOUR DESK.
A change of scenery can do you a world of good, even though you are still working 12 hour shifts seven days a week. Most ad agencies will often let you work remotely from time to time, especially if you are looking for inspiration. Try finding a local coffee shop or bar, or maybe go to the nearest park. It is truly remarkable how much this will help you with your burnout feelings. However, do not try working from home. When you are experiencing burnout, you will need to make every effort possible in order to separate work life from home life. The last thing that you would be wanting is bringing work home with you.

Thank you.