Avoiding end-of-year burnout: 5 tips for workers

The silly season is upon us, and while many will be taking the time to relax and catch up with loved ones, there’s no denying that the craziness of this time of year takes a toll on us.

Burnout can be a common consequence of the hectic nature of Christmas time. To assist in mitigating issues, RMIT University released a five-step guide to reducing burnout:

1. Challenge self-victimisation

“We often experience and partake in burnout ‘one-upping’ in chats with friends and colleagues. Bragging about how burnt out you are and how hard/late/long you are working perpetuates the need to always seem busy or to always be doing more. It puts pressure on others to compete with these norms and match these hyperbolic narratives. Instead, challenge this bragging or self-victimisation by encouraging our friends and colleagues to seek self-care opportunities and to role model healthy work/life balance in our own lives.”

2. Take a total leadership approach

“This encourages us to value all parts of our lives (not just work). As our research has shown, augmenting one aspect, such as self-care, creates a spillover effect to other domains, such as work. Employers should support self-care for the betterment of the employee and business.”

3. Have agency over your own wellbeing

“Starting afresh in 2024, not from a point of deficit, starts with ourselves. Take that break, use mindfulness practices and pay attention to how you feel. Deep breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, spending time outdoors and prioritising sleep can help manage the burnout feeling.”

4. Mind over matter

“Be realistic with expectations; it’s OK to be good enough and not to achieve perfection in everything we do. Accepting our own limits will help readjust our goals and attitude towards life. Stop and celebrate the wins instead of dwelling on what didn’t get done.”

5. Question that sense of urgency

“Urgency has become a norm in the modern world – whether it be to respond to a text message or to complete an urgent job task making us feel overwhelmed. Enforce a digital detox by unplugging technology over a selected period for our own wellbeing and the wellbeing of everyone around us. We deserve it.”