Michael DeSafey | Executive Recruiter and HR Professional

A Career in Crisis – Beating Burnout

A Career in Crisis – Beating Burnout

Date : July 26, 2016 | By : michael_desafey

The Grind. We all know it. We all live it. Day after day, week after week, you go to work, prepared to battle in the trenches for your firm. Day after day, week after week. Client demands are mounting; you start viewing them as the enemy.

It’s no wonder you’re on the verge of burn-out. It’s getting harder and harder to answer the bell on Mondays, and it’s downhill from there. Commuting and traffic and meetings and phone calls and technology and deadlines and…

…you’re not at your best at home. Your family is getting the office leftovers. Most of your time after work is a whirlwind of homework, dinner, getting the kids down. Then finally, finally, a few minutes of down-time before bed. Then the alarm goes off and it starts all over again.

Yeah, burnout is right around the corner. It’s one of the most insidious career-killers in the A/E/C industry. Weekends aren’t nearly long enough to recharge your battery. How can you get off the hamster wheel; to put on the brakes before you hit that wall? Here’s how to fix your career crisis and beat burnout:

Take Some Time For Yourself….

It’s that simple. Make some time, every day, to be by yourself. Leave your office and turn off your cell. Go outside if possible. Close your eyes and listen to music. Read a devotion or a chapter in the book that’s been collecting dust on your nightstand. Take a walk. Fifteen minutes, every day, will save your sanity. These are 10 things that happen when you spend time alone:

  1. It’s quiet. Don’t underestimate this. It’s therapeutic for your tired, overstimulated brain. 
  2. Your mind learns to rest. This isn’t automatic. You have to work at it but, eventually, your mind will learn to rest. 
  3. You learn to relax. Again, this isn’t automatic. With time, your breathing and heart rate slow. Your shoulders drop. Tension leaves your neck. 
  4. You think more clearly. Once your mind learns to rest, it’s easier to organize thoughts, free of the clutter and noise. 
  5. You become a more positive person. As the stress and negativity start sliding away it becomes more natural to feel better about yourself and the world around you. 
  6. You have more patience. Positive people tend to extend more grace to others. Clients become friends again. 
  7. Your priorities become more defined. It’s easier to see the forest when you aren’t focusing on each tree bearing down on you. 
  8. You are a better spouse/partner/friend. All of that positivity and good feelings bring sunshine to those you love! 
  9. You become a better leader. A clear head and more patience will result in better decisions and a more cohesive team. 
  10. Your life is better. Promise.

Spending time alone, every day, will reboot your life and heal your career crisis. It won’t get rid of traffic or extend deadlines, but you’ll be able to handle them in a more positive manner.

Michael DeSafey is a leading executive recruiter for professionals in the construction, engineering and environmental industries. He is currently the President of Webuild Staffing www.webuildstaffing.com . To learn more about Michael or to follow his blog please visit www.michaeldesafey.com

5 Simple Things You Can Do To Beat Workplace Burnout

Workplace Burn#5: Learn How to Walk Away

5 Simple Things You Can Do To Beat Workplace Burnout

Date : November 18, 2014 | By : michael_desafey

Job burnout is a terrible place to be emotionally. Caused by unending pressure and stress burnout makes you feel tired, you dread showing up at work and while you’re there everything feels like a weight tied around your neck. You can’t relax, and to make things worse it can feel like all you’re doing is wasting time and energy.

For those who’ve been noticing work feels like an ever-growing ordeal it’s possible that you’re starting to reach burnout. For those in the construction, environmental, or engineering profession this can be particularly risky not just for you, but for others who depend on you to be on your game.

Fortunately there are a number of things you can do to beat burnout and be successful in your job.

#5: Learn How to Walk Away

The person who can’t leave work at work is a trope in every film and book out there. While dedication to your job is important, it shouldn’t become your life. Hang up the day’s work with your hard hat, or lock it in the drawer with the blue pencil. Stressing about the job when you’re not on site isn’t going to make it get done any faster, and recharging your batteries for the evening without thinking about the job is just the thing to help you come back with a clear head and the focused drive you need.

#4: Do Something You Love

This advice shouldn’t be confused with the old saying of “get a career that fulfills you.” If you can do then that’s great, but if you’re dealing with job stress then you need to take some time just for you and do something that makes you feel good. Go on a fishing trip, see a play, go for a hike, or whatever activity it is that lets you unwind. It might be as simple as taking an hour to paint in your garage or working on your hobby car, but the time you spend on something you love can help you feel a lot better. After a day of putting up frames, poring over drawings, or trying to analyze a problem with local officials it helps to do something you want to do.

#3: Communicate With The People You Work With

One of the major risks for burnout is lack of certainty about where one stands. Is the project going as anticipated? Is the boss mad at you? Instead of stewing on these questions it’s a good idea to have a regular meeting’s to make sure everyone’s on the same page. It’s amazing the peace of mind a simple, “You’re doing a great job, keep it up,” can do to help reduce the risk of burnout when it comes from a superior.

#2: Focus On The Things You Like

Burnout can make every aspect of your job seem awful, which is why it’s important to remind yourself of the things you like. Do you enjoy plotting out the design of a new building before working out the details of stresses and physics? Do you like the satisfaction of feeling knowing that your work is going to be part of structure that will endure? Do you feel good about your job when you realize you’re protecting wildlife? Focus on the positive aspects of your career, and you’ll be better able to deal with the negatives.

#1: Eliminate Sources of Stress (When You Can)

Job burnout is caused by stress that goes on and on until the stress outweighs any other aspect of the job. So the best thing you can do to beat your burnout is to identify your sources of stress and eliminate them whenever possible. Is your schedule at a bad time for you? Do you have a co-worker you just can’t deal with? Do you need some time off to handle your personal life? While you can’t always make a source of stress go away, sometimes it is within your power to request changes. Ask to work a different shift, try and explain to your co-worker what he or she is doing that’s adding to your stress, or see if you can leave the job a little early for the weekend to handle your personal affairs.

Following these few tips will help you work through the daily stresses of your job and make you a much happier and productive employee.

Michael DeSafey is a leading executive recruiter for professionals in the construction, engineering and environmental industries. He is currently the President of Webuild Staffing (www.webuildstaffing.com ). To learn more about Michael or to follow his Blog please visit www.michaeldesafey.com

Professional Burnout?? Are You One Of The Walking Zombies…

Professional Burnout?? Are You One Of The Walking Zombies…

Date : February 25, 2014 | By : michael_desafey

As a professional recruiter who has been working and recruiting professionals in the environmental, engineering and construction industries for over 18 years now at Webuild Staffing, professional burnout has become a major issue among working professionals in today’s marketplace.

For the diehard workaholics out there believe it or not relaxing and taking a vacation can be a good thing. Most employers would want you to be working all the time, but you may not realize how advantageous it can be to take a few weeks off. Studies have shown slowing down decreases the chances of professional burnout and improves your overall health and work / life balance greatly.

Here are a 5 tips that will allow you to recognize the signs of professional burnout so you can take action before you or someone you know burns out.

1. Are you always tired, exhausted, stressed out or just walking around in a daze going through the motions at work? If so, you are probably at that burnout state. Most people get to a point where fatigue caused by long term stress, can cause health problems and make you more prone to sickness.

2. Memory Problems? Are you forgetting things? Have too much going on at one time? Stress can lead to cognitive memory problems. So if you keep forgetting things it’s time to slow down.

3. Eating a lot of fast food? Not exercising? Sleeping way too much? Not going to the doctor or dentist for basic checkups? You’re not taking care of the most important thing, yourself!! If your work schedule, projects and responsibilities are putting your personal health at the back of the line. It’s time to stop and take stock of where you are.

4. Thinking about work all the time? Stressed about deadlines? Not relaxing while at home? Becoming less productive? If you’re beginning to feel isolated and overwhelmed by your responsibilities then you may be showing signs of depression and extreme burnout. It’s time to reach out to family, co-workers and friends for help. Continuing along in this state will greatly affect your long-term health and career.

5. Is your family life suffering? Are you having marriage problems? Are you spending most of your time at work? There is a reason, you are burned out. It’s time to take stock of your life and get things back on track. Even if it means changing jobs, taking a sabbatical or a prolonged vacation.

Professional burnout is one of the greatest problems in today’s workplace. The most successful professionals are the ones that have the abilities to balance the demands of life, recognize burnout and prioritize their responsibilities to make sure they are able to maintain a balanced life. Even if it takes asking for assistance or help with projects.

Michael DeSafey is a leading executive recruiter for professionals in the construction, engineering and environmental industries. He is currently the President of Webuild Staffing (www.webuildstaffing.com). To learn more about Michael or Follow his Blog please visit www.michaeldesafey.com