Burnout is a very real problem faced by many employees. What is burnout, you may ask? It’s a state of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress or being overworked. If left unchecked, burnout can lead to strokes and heart attacks.

If you think that you too are experiencing burnout, you need to take a step back and make a few changes. If you don’t, you will watch your productivity plummet while experiencing the disastrous effects mentioned above. Here are a few tips that’ll help you stay productive, and keep stress at manageable levels.

It’s OK to say NO

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A lot of us take on more than we can chew just because we can’t say no to people. This problem only worsens at work because we feel that saying no will create a negative impression of us and will hence affect our growth.

In such a case, ask yourself a few questions before you accept more work, such as –

• Does this task really need to be done?
• Am I the person who has to do this task?
• Does it really need to be done when my manager says it does?
• What level of quality is really required?

These answers will help you explain to your manager why this task need not be done by you, without plainly saying no. Now, you get to focus on your primary responsibilities and are saved from unnecessary additional tasks.

Take a vacation

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Have you looked at the number of holidays you’ve accumulated over the years? Don’t let them go to waste! A vacation can help you in many ways than just taking you away from what stresses you.

Vacations help you gain new insight into problems that might have haunted you. The new people, places, and experiences that you gain through vacations inspire new ideas and help you get back to work with better clarity. It could even apply to the distance education course that you’re currently pursuing.

Tony Schwartz, the author of The Way We Work Isn’t Working, says “You’ll get more overall work done at a higher level of quality if you take your vacations.” Quick, use up those vacation days to move ahead in your company.

Listen to what your body needs

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Getting too caught up in your work can often lead to skipping meals as well as giving up on sleep and exercise. These things can cause adverse effects not just on your body, but on your mind as well. If you don’t eat on time, your body starts storing food as fat. If you snack on unhealthy food, your body won’t get the required nutrition, thereby leaving you even more drained out at the end of a long day.

Without 6-8 hours of sleep a night you won’t be able to perform to your best ability. It’s also proven that those who sleep well retain information better, which in turn boosts their performance. So, if you are unable to focus, it’s probably time for a nap.

Exercise in the form of yoga is a great way to avoid burnout. Yoga is not as strenuous on your body as cardio, yet it releases endorphins that keep you happy. Yoga also teaches you breathing techniques that can help you relax in stressful situations.

These are a few simple ways to stay productive, without losing sight of your goals. Good time management will also help you brush up on other skills or take up distance learning courses such as MBA, MCA and so on that can elevate your career.