Many employers today are beginning to take into account their employee’s mental health and overall wellbeing. The World Health Organization recently recognized burnout as an “occupational phenomenon” which affects people of all ages, races, and ethnicities. But what is burnout and how can we avoid this uncomfortable dilemma?

Burnout typically occurs when an individual overextends their abilities to the point where they aren’t allowing themselves any downtime. It is a state of both physical and emotional exhaustion and can result in an extreme feeling of lack of accomplishment and control. Burnout can be detrimental to one’s health and life outside of work. It is vitally important to try and find a balance between work and family life in order to avoid many causes of burnout. Here are some helpful tips to avoid burnout while in the workplace.

Make rules for yourself

The first step to reducing burnout in the workplace is to create general rules for yourself. Whether this is limiting your email access after 7 p.m. in the evening or using 10 minutes a few times a day to take a walk or make a cup of coffee, setting boundaries will help separate your work life from your outside life. These rules not only add a little structure to your life but can also provide for a reduction in stress.

Set attainable goals

Set goals that you can actually accomplish. There are only so many hours in each day, and we realistically cannot complete everything on our plate. Try to create a ‘to-do’ list of items you can check off each day. Sure, other more pressing items may pop up, but try to keep to your list as much as possible.

Share your calendar

Make it known to your co-workers and supervisors your daily whereabouts and when you are taking personal time off. Sometimes however, it is unavoidable that you may be contacted regarding a pressing issue even if you are not physically in the office that day. However, by sharing your calendar with co-workers they will have a better idea of your daily work and personal activities. In turn, this can help you better plan out your days and to avoid some unpleasant stressors.

How will you avoid burnout? What rules and goals will you create for yourself to help live a more healthy and productive life?