How many times has ‘just one more email’ kept you late in the office? 

 

Or a few niggly jobs that ‘just need to be done’ had you working on a weekend? 

 

How about your lunch break… When was the last time you took your full one of those? 

 

It might only feel like a couple of minutes here and there. But, with 60% of people saying they work longer hours than they want and 1 in 4 saying they overwork by 10 hours or more a week (CIPD) it’s clear these minutes can add up quickly. 

Burnout doesn't go away on its own; and not addressing the problem can lead to much bigger problems down the line, like long term sickness, presenteeism, depression, stress and anxiety. 

 

The trouble is, when you’re in a position where you’re running your own business and maybe there aren’t the people there to hand work over to, shutting up shop just isn't an option. If this is the case, then looking out for yourself and the signs of burnout should be your top priority. 

 

Catching the signs early and alleviating some of that stress from yourself before burnout becomes a problem is the most effective way to hit the reset button before burnout begins to slow you down. 

 

So what should you be looking out for? And how do you hit that reset button? 

Being able to delegate tasks that are holding you back and draining your time and energy is no longer a luxury exclusively available to those with a huge team behind them. No matter what the size operation you run or scale of business you have, delegation is one of the most effective ways to free up some time and headspace to focus on what's most important to you. 

When you’re on the brink of burning out, your body will be sending you lots of signals telling you it’s time to slow down. It's often tempting to push these to the back of your head and hope that they will pass, but there are several warning signs you want to stay mindful of. 

How many times have you found yourself thinking that there’s just not enough hours in the day? 

 

Some days, you can just feel up against it - and that is ok. But if you’re ending every work day feeling the same it might be time for a change. 

 

Feeling overwhelmed is like trying to juggle too many balls at once. As with juggling, everyone has their personal limit for how many balls they can have in the air at once. But constantly pushing yourself to add a new ball when you’re not ready or already at your limit will leave you feeling pressure, stressed and as if you’re in over your head. 

 

No matter what organisation, industry, pay grade or seniority level you’re at, everyone is at risk of feeling totally overwhelmed at work. 

For many who are just starting out on their wellness journey, a journal often feels like a very easy and achievable place to start. It can become an excellent tool to help you work through challenging times and let go of things that are troubling you. It’s a bit like a silent benevolent friend that listens and is there for you when you need to express how you feel. It can teach you a lot about yourself, your triggers and your ways of dealing in stressful situations that can be reflected on and used to reduce the impact of future events. 

The change in season affects us all differently. For some, it's the long awaited chance to cosy up in knitted jumpers, sip fancy coffees and kick through golden crunchy leaves. For others it's the season of change: where the new school year, looming holiday season and tiredness from picking up after others who were off on holiday over the summer all begins to stack up. 

We’ve all heard the age old adage; “if you go looking for something you don't want to find, chances are you’ll find it”. 

 

It’s true, if you go looking for red flags and deal breakers in a new relationship, you’re almost guaranteed to find one. But, when we’ve been hurt by relationships in the past, it’s difficult to not be extra cautious and/or vigilant when taking that brave step back into the dating game. It's especially hard if the last one ended because of a red flag that went overlooked for longer than it maybe should have. 

 

So, is it possible to be vigilant without making it your personal mission to hunt out these red flags? 

 

Well, yes! And here’s how… 

Taking that leap back onto the dating scene after a breakup or divorce is a courageous step. 

 

It’s taken a lot of time to rediscover yourself again and get yourself back to a place where you feel confident. But this often means there’s a sense of apprehension that comes with opening yourself up again to the dating game. 

 

So, what steps can you take as you reenter the dating game to protect yourself and your sense of self? 

For many of us, it's felt like a long time coming… 

 

A whole week of no emails or calls from clients, no urgent jobs that need to be completed yesterday and no more gazing at the sun from your office window. Imagine! Just the warm sun, a cool pool and an all you can eat breakfast buffet. 

 

As August rapidly approaches, the prospect of a holiday abroad is finally becoming a reality for many. 

 

But, after a turbulent few years, the unwelcome anxiety induced by thoughts of returning to work can have a habit of putting a damper on your last few days of holiday. 

 

So how can we stop this from happening so you can enjoy every last second of your time away? 

Does it feel like you’re spending the majority of your time at work or home under the bus? 

 

Like, no matter how hard you try you’re being set up to fail and that none of your achievements will ever be good enough? 

 

Being scapegoated in either a workplace or family situation is never a good feeling. It can feel like you’re being blamed for everything that goes wrong or that your successes and achievements don't mean anything.