LESSONS LEARNED ON HOW TO AVOID BURNOUT
It all started when I built a gaming computer in high school.
I couldn’t get enough Unreal Tournament, Starcraft, or any multiplayer PC game for that matter. Connecting computers together with friends at LAN parties made us fell like we could conquer the world. So I landed on a career path of computer networking and haven’t stopped for the last 20 years...
Computers can be fun, but also overwhelming. In the last two decades I’ve failed a few times, so I’d thought I share some of my experiences with you.
As soon as I wake in the morning my hand reaches for my phone. Heck, my phone is my alarm. Then I swipe to my work calendar, check my personal Gmail, casually browse social media, and slowly get ready for work. That’s unless I have a super early meeting. The rest of the day I’m glued in front of a computer. The day I turned 30 I remember feeling like I woke up with aches, pains, and the inability to stare at the smaller text without experiencing eye fatigue. So yes, I’m now that guy with the large font and icons. Technology has essentially embedded itself into all parts of our lives and combine that with working in tech can be a killer combo. On top of that, the COVID pandemic didn’t help the situation.
MANIFESTATION
Burnout can manifest in many different shapes and sizes. In some cases, I was no longer willing to be the friendly neighborhood or the family geek squad technician.
I’ll never forget the time my wife told me, “Aren’t you a network engineer? Then why does our home network SUCK?” To my reply, “Just REBOOT the router.” Note: The crappy cable provided router with built-in Wi-Fi had to be rebooted at least once a week.
In other cases, things can get much worse. Have you ever finished work in a horrible mood only to find yourself fighting with a family member or having a fit of road rage? I’ve been there. More serious effects can come in the form of depression, severe anger, and/or anxiety. If you’re already feeling this way, I highly suggest seeking for professional help. My wife always says, “If you had some other medical condition you would see a doctor and this should be no different.” And I’m here to tell you there’s nothing wrong with asking for help.
LIFE LESSONS AND SOME ADVICE
One of the simpliest things you can put into practice is intentionally blocking time on your calendar. Also, remember to PLAN and TAKE a vacation. I recently had a college of my remind me of this. You can’t be productive if you’re hangry, dehydrated, or having body aches. Be flexible with your blocks of time and find what works best. Don’t fall into the trap of working 10+ hours a day in fear that you’ll “fall behind”. There’s no such thing. Work will always be there regardless of how much you get done.
Lesson two, find a way to manage your frustrations. I remember reading the Oz Principle a book about accountability and results in the workplace. The book describes, “Falling below the line.” You’re fed up, everything’s a mess, and everyone else is the problem. You may have fallen below the line.
Find a positive force you can share your frustrations with. Someone who can lift you up and not tear you down.
The last thing you need is fuel added to the fire. My wife is one of my biggest support systems. She constantly reminds me to think of all the positive impacts and interactions I have. If you focus on the negative, you’ll tend to react negatively.
I had a high school principal who would give the daily morning announcements and end with this, “If you have a positive attitude, you will have a positive day.”
Everyone thought it was funny at the time, but I think he was on to something. Now some situations can arise that do require escalation. No one should ever have to endure harassment, bullying, or any form of abuse in the workplace. So if you find yourself in this type of situation, I’d recommend engaging human resources. And the best advice I can give is to find a hobby. What do you enjoy? What are you passionate about?
Is there something you’ve always wanted to try? What do you find interesting? Sure I like tech, but I also love going on adventures/roadtrips with my wife and kids. I’m also an Adult fan of LEGO and love the fact that LEGO now has “Adult” sets. And I can’t help diving into random automotive projects. Depending on the hobby, it can become somewhat expensive. My wife and I remember working on cars just because we couldn’t afford to have someone else do the work. Now we get to work on cars for fun. So choose something that fits your budget. The last thing you need is additive financial stress, which is a topic for another day.
So don’t listen to anyone tell you burnout isn’t real, it’s all in your head, or to just get over it. We’re all human, so it’s OK if you hit a wall. It’s all about what we do when we hit that wall and not that we’ve hit a wall :)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
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The Oz Principle: Getting Results Through Individual and Organizational Accountability
