Burnout is a common issue that plagues many organisations, but it can be prevented with the right management style. Too often, managers fall into the trap of people pleasing and self-sacrifice in an effort to please their employees or make them feel better about themselves. This type of behaviour may seem like it’s helping in the short term, but it will only contribute to burnout in the long run. Let’s take a closer look at how this happens.
The Danger of People Pleasing
People pleasing is when managers excessively accommodate their employees’ demands or requests without looking at the big picture. It is often fuelled by a desire to be liked by others or make them feel good about themselves. While accommodating employees can show that you care about them, it should not be done excessively as it can lead to burnout and cause resentment among other team members who don’t receive the same special treatment.
Self-Sacrifice Can Lead To Stress
Another common mistake that managers make is sacrificing their own needs to meet employee demands. This type of behaviour is often rooted in guilt or a feeling of obligation. While it may seem like self-sacrifice shows your dedication to your team, this type of behaviour usually leads to stress and exhaustion for both you and your employees. When you overextend yourself for others, you are setting yourself up for failure in the long run because eventually your resources will run out and you won’t be able to meet everyone’s expectations anymore. It is also sets a precedence for standards that others come to expect in the future.
The Solution: Balance & Respect
The solution isn’t as simple as saying “don’t people please or self-sacrifice!” Instead, what managers need to focus on is finding a balance between meeting employee demands and taking care of themselves first. It is important that we respect our own boundaries while still showing our employees respect and appreciation for their hard work. This doesn't mean we should ignore our employees' requests; instead, we should take the time to understand what they are asking for before making any decisions. That way, we can ensure that both ourselves and our employees are getting what they need without sacrificing too much on either side.
As managers, we all want our teams to succeed—but at what cost? People pleasing and self-sacrifice can easily lead down a path towards burnout if left unchecked. The key here is balance—we need to find ways to meet employee demands while still taking care of ourselves first so that everyone wins in the end! By respecting our own boundaries while still showing appreciation for our team members' hard work, we can create a positive environment where everyone feels supported and respected while also avoiding burnout along the way!
If you feel like you need extra support in making these changes, don't hesitate to reach out. Book in a time to chat with Hana or follow her on: Facebook Instagram or LinkedIn
I get it. I've been there too. But the good news is that you can change your habits, behaviours, and beliefs to transform your life.
The way you treat yourself is what's in the way between you living your best life and a burnout life. If you're constantly putting yourself last, then you're going to end up feeling resentful, exhausted, and overwhelmed.
Here are some things you can do to start changing your habits:
Make self-care a priority: start by scheduling time for yourself every day, even if it's just 10 minutes. Put it in your calendar and treat it like any other appointment.
Set boundaries: learn to say no to things that don't align with your values or that drain your energy. This includes saying no to people pleasing, overcommitting, and perfectionism.
Nourish your body: fuel your body with healthy foods that give you energy and make you feel good. Avoid processed foods, sugar, and alcohol as much as possible.
Move your body: find an exercise routine that you enjoy and stick with it. Exercise releases endorphins that improve mood and reduce stress levels.
Get enough sleep: aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night to let your body and mind recover from the day's activities.
Connect with others: human connection is essential for our mental health. Spend time with friends and family, join social clubs or groups, volunteer, or participate in online communities
Remember that changing habits is not an overnight process. It takes time, effort, and patience. But the payoff is a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life
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If you feel like you need extra support in making these changes, don't hesitate to reach out. Book in a time to chat with Hana or follow her on: Facebook Instagram or LinkedIn
As a manager, you know that running a business is no walk in the park. But did you know that anxiety can be just as much of a factor in your workplace? Everyone experiences anxiety differently and it’s more common than you might think. Let’s take a closer look at how anxiety shows up in the workplace – and what you can do about it.
What is Anxiety?
In the most simplest form anxiety is a worrying thought, nervousness or unease, it’s a fear about the future and what may or may not happen. These thoughts and feelings can appear real both mentally and physically for an individual. The probability of the events being played out in the mind actually happening are generally slim. The challenge with anxiety is the view is one sided, very imbalanced and there’s a tendency to gigantify the situation or focus on extreme outcomes which heightens the level of anxiety.
It Can Look Different For Everyone
We all experience anxiety differently. For some, it might show up as avoidance behaviour or procrastination; for others, it could present itself as difficulty speaking up in meetings. Some employees may even become overly critical of themselves or their co-workers when anxious. In short, there are many ways that anxiety can manifest itself in the workplace – and they’re not always easy to spot.
You Don't Have to Have All The Answers
When an employee comes to you with feelings of anxiety, you don’t have to have all the answers right away. What matters most is that you show empathy and understanding. Offer them support if they need it and provide resources like hypnotherapy, counselling or mental health days if necessary. You don’t have to be an expert on anxiety; just being there for your team is often enough to make a difference.
Set Boundaries And Stick To Them
The best way to create an environment where everyone feels safe is to set clear boundaries from the start and stick to them consistently. This includes having zero tolerance for any kind of discrimination or harassment in your workplace – regardless of whether it’s intended or accidental – as well as setting expectations for behaviour when interacting with colleagues and customers alike. Making sure everyone understands these boundaries from day one can help create an atmosphere of trust and respect among your team members – which is key when trying to manage anxiety levels across the board.
Anxiety isn't something that should be overlooked or ignored in the workplace – but with proper management, it doesn't have to be a burden either. By taking proactive steps such as setting clear boundaries, showing empathy, and providing resources whenever possible, managers can ensure their teams feel supported while still getting their work done efficiently and effectively. With these tips here today, managing anxiety in the workplace has never been easier!
If you feel like you need extra support in making these changes, don't hesitate to reach out. Book in a time to chat with Hana or follow her on: Facebook Instagram or LinkedIn
I get asked a lot why do women experience burnout more than men? It’s a great question that has been debated for years, but the answer is pretty simple: Women are conditioned to be caregivers and multitaskers. Let’s explore some of the reasons why women are more likely to feel overwhelmed by their responsibilities than men and therefore burnout at a faster rate.
Women are more likely to experience burnout than men.
Why is this? Well, the first reason has to do with our cultural expectations of women. As a society, we tend to view women as caregivers—whether it's for their children or their older parents or a sick friend. This can put an enormous amount of pressure on them to be everything for everyone all the time, and leaves little room for self-care.
According to a 2009 Gallup poll, 57% of working mothers said they always felt rushed compared with only 35% of fathers.
Then there's just plain old stress: Women tend to get stressed out, and some also add in a dose of anxiety where they are constantly worrying about their future, or their family members. When they start feeling overwhelmed by their responsibilities and commitments in life (which often include caregiving), it doesn't take long before burnout can set in.
In my experience working with my clients, women have a tendency to deprioritise themselves in life. They don’t allow themselves time to do activities for themselves that fill their hearts up and bring them happiness. Because they’re too busy doing for everyone one else and hauling around feelings of not being good enough, worthy enough and feeling like a failure.
Another reason women experience burnout more than men is due to the fact that women take on more responsibility around the home, at work, and for their families. According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Women's Association, women also take care of about two-thirds of all elderly family members. I really relate to this as I’ve been responsible for my mum over the past six years, she’s in a dementia care unit but that doesn’t mean the workload is any less than if she was at home.
It's not easy being a fricken woman in this world! Among other things, you're expected to be an excellent employee, an excellent mother, partner or wife (or both), an excellent cook/cleaner/ housekeeper/nursemaid (depending on your role), and have a face that makes everyone you meet fall in love with you —all the while looking effortlessly beautiful while doing it all.
The Pressure to be perfect
From the moment we are born, women are expected to do everything perfectly. We must be perfect mothers, wives and friends; we must excel at our careers; and we must look beautiful every day of our lives—and so on and so forth until the end of time.
While men are rarely scrutinized for failing at any one of these roles (unless they're a politician), a woman who fails is often seen as unworthy of love or support by others in her life—and sometimes even by herself!
Career-first women aren’t selfish
Women are simply not as selfish men with their own time and boundaries.
That sounds a little strange, but hear me out. Women who prioritize their careers are often shamed for doing so. They’re accused of being “selfish” or “unfocused,” which is a big reason why more men are promoted and earn higher salaries than their female peers.
Now, I don’t think this has to do with the work ethic or intelligence of women who put their career first—rather, it has everything to do with societal expectations surrounding gender roles and stereotypes about what makes someone successful in life (which we'll talk about next).
Responsible for other people’s happiness
Ladies we often feel responsible for other people’s happiness, unlike our male folk.
As primary caretakers of children, family members, and friends. We worry about our parents having enough money to live on and our siblings getting along with each other. It’s common that we to take on responsibility for the wellbeing of our partners and spouses too—making sure that they feel loved and supported.
Ladies we also tend to take on the guilt when things don't go as planned or when something bad happens—even if it's not their fault at all! They blame themselves easily without realizing it because they don't want anyone else around them feeling bad about themselves either. This causes an inner conflict within them which leads them towards burnout faster than men do who aren't as prone towards taking responsibility for others' feelings or actions (unless they're leading someone somewhere).
Then there’s the guilt that comes with not being able to meet these expectations: You know that feeling right, like you know you’re not spending enough time on your own well-being can be completely overwhelming at times.
Limited support
OMG, the odds are stacked against you when it comes to support. You are more likely to wear a superwomen's cape and do it all than delegate out. When it to a supportive network at work, you keep looking and searching to find there’s nothing…., all of this can lead to burnout.
If you have ever felt like your life was falling apart, there might be a reason for that. Women experience burnout more than men because they are constantly doing for others in all areas of their lives and feeling the pressure of perfectionism.
The good news is that there are things you can do to prevent this from happening. To avoid burning out or even being in a state of chronic stress, and overwhelm consider making some changes TODAY.
I don’t mean jump in boots and all, it’s a start small process where you work yourself up to being ok with putting yourself first. You deserve to live your best life, but that’s not possible when you tank is running near on empty.
If you feel like you need extra support in making these changes, don't hesitate to reach out. Book in a time to chat with Hana or follow her on: Facebook Instagram or LinkedIn
Perfectionism can contribute to burnout in several ways.
First, perfectionists tend to set excessively high standards for themselves, which can lead to feelings of frustration and disappointment when they are not met. Second, perfectionists often ruminate on their mistakes and dwell on negative feedback. All of these factors can increase feelings of anxiety and stress, which when left unmanaged for prolonged periods of time can lead to burnout.
Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive stress. It can lead to feelings of cynicism and withdrawal, decreased productivity, and even physical health problems.
Often you get small signs that Burnout is knocking at your door way before it becomes a thing. We are often too busy with work and home life that we don't prioritise listening to the signals our body is giving us. Instead, we brush it off, ignore it, or pop a pill to alleviate the problem and carry on.
Society has taught us that we need to be strong and tough out situations or we will be perceived as weak or not good enough. In the workforce, this creates a belief that we won't be seen as professional, or perhaps that we may be overlooked for a promotion. This thinking is what further drives perfectionist behaviour to get everything just right, perfect in fact.
The problem with this approach is that it has contributed to many high performers pushing themselves to extremes and suppressing the internal alarm signals in their bodies. Health issues become worse than necessary and we spend an insurmountable amount of time, effort, energy and money to rebuild ourselves out of a state of Burnout.
While perfectionism can be seen as a good thing, in excess it can lead to burnout. If you’re struggling with perfectionism and feel like you’re constantly burning the midnight oil, it might be time to seek some help.
There are plenty of resources available to you, and we’d love to help connect you with them. Don’t suffer in silence – there is hope for recovery.
What have been your experiences with perfectionism?
If you feel like you need extra support in making these changes, don't hesitate to reach out. Book in a time to chat with Hana or follow her on: Facebook Instagram or LinkedIn
