…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

The main problem to consider is workplace stress. If you are having trouble going to sleep and getting up in the morning due to work stress, and you dread going to your job every day, this is something to pay attention to. Stress is very individual, therefore what is stressful for one person may not be so for another. According to the CDC, “Stress sets off an alarm in the brain, which responds by preparing the body for defensive action. The nervous system is aroused and hormones are released to sharpen the senses, quicken the pulse, deepen respiration, and tense the muscles.”

Infrequent episodes of stress aren’t harmful to the body, because it is designed to come back to a place of relative calm. However, if the stress is constant or never resolved, the body is continually kept in a state of fight or flight, which can lead to poor sleep, intestinal issues, illness and mental health conditions like depression and nervous breakdowns. This is a cause for more frequent sick days. Employers not having the staff you need on site costs time, money, and expertise, and if you are the worker who is suffering, you are paying heavy consequences for the work you are doing.

Two areas of workplace stress include workload and working conditions. According to the CDC, “Heavy workload, infrequent rest breaks, long work hours and shift work” can all cause workplace stress. Unsafe site conditions and supervisors who expect work to be done regardless of the safety of their workers also take a heavy toll on employees in the construction industry. These conditions also affect employees’ home lives, which in turn will affect how they are able to execute their tasks.

Interpersonal relationships between supervisors and employees or employee to employee can also greatly affect your decision to leave a construction job. Unreasonable expectations, conflicting or confusing work roles, unethical behavior, negativity and working with difficult people can be very stressful.

Career Advancement and Compensation is another workplace stressor that must be considered, since you may not be getting paid sufficiently for the work you are doing or your advancement opportunities are limited. This is tricky, since you must consider whether you want to find another job with better pay, while working for your current employer.

Relaxed and clear-minded construction professionals are incredibly important, since some field personnel are using power tools like nail guns, saws, and often operating large machinery. The risk of injury for people who are stressed is very high, and it not only affects that individual but also co-workers and supervisors on the job.

The chance of error is also a big factor among stressed individuals, which can be costly when doing construction. One faucet hole drilled in the wrong place in a slab of granite counter-top could cost thousands  in materials and time, for example. Errors on the job can also cause problems later on, such as when poor electrical wiring causes a fire for future homeowners or businesses, as well as affecting subsequent processes such as installing flooring over a surface that is not level.

Although other factors may come into play, workplace stress due to the factors described above is the biggest area to look at, especially for the construction industry. If you decide looking for a different job is in your best interests a good resource would be Webuild Staffing, who specializes in staffing construction organizations worldwide.

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

 In the engineering and construction business frustration levels can skyrocket. And as much as you’d like it to end there, it doesn’t. It’s hard to maintain a good, healthy lifestyle when your job is stressful. That stress keeps getting heavier and heavier on your shoulders till you feel ready to break! Your job, whether it’s the planning or building, is important to the industry as a whole. Don’t be the link in the chain that breaks! Here are a few tips to step out from under that heavy burden of work related stress and take back your life.

Tip #1: Breathe – You’ve probably heard it before, the famous phrase, “Calm down” often comes with an assistant, “Take a deep breath.” Maybe you don’t believe in that anymore. The whole “calming” backwards countdown is a little childish for your taste. Don’t shoot deep breathing down just yet! Deep breathing helps promote a sense of calm, delivering needed oxygen to the brain, and really helping you focus. Plans fall through, deadlines are shortened, equipment breaks down…the list goes on and on. Often when we are stressed it’s hard to keep our focus, missing problems that may be right under our noses. It’s easy to become overwhelmed in a high-end industry. Breathing is key to maintaining a stress free outlook on those unavoidable problems. Try inhaling for five count and exhaling for five count. You can do more or less if you feel this is insufficient or too much. Take a step back if needed and then reintroduce yourself to the problem.

Tip #2: Communication – Frustration equals lack of communication. This can lead to all kinds of problems in the industry. Any successful company can tell you, correct communication keeps things running smoothly. When something is really stressing us out, the most insignificant things could make us blow up. We’ve all had our moments. The problem is when we blow up at other people. Everyone gets hurt when that happens and nothing gets accomplished. You notice someone has made a mistake; maybe they are not following safety protocol, or have misread instructions. Letting them know calmly and asking them to correct their mistake it is the easiest and most effective way to fix the problem. Perhaps you need a different angle on your project, or help deciding the best route to completing it. Don’t let your pride get in the way of your job. It’s necessary to communicate your problems and to seek help in working them out.

Tip #3: Personal Time – If you’re working long hours, or even stressful short ones, be sure to make some time for personal activities. Having a balance between life and work is important to be successful. You shouldn’t let work over-complicate your life and vis versa. Often, if there isn’t a problem at work there is a problem at home. Learn to relax into your life again. Pick up a hobby or get some exercise to relieve stress. Activities you enjoy can help you to appreciate yourself and all that you can do! Turn off the tv (Unless you’ve got an important game scheduled, which is understandable) and go outside! Take in nature and relax! Do whatever you find relaxing. And make sure you are eating right and getting enough sleep.

These tips will undoubtedly improve your mood and your work ethic. If you mess up ask for forgiveness, forgive yourself, fix the problem, and move on. It’s up to you to take that step closer to a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling balance between your job and your life.

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

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