Tag: burnout
Pace yourself
I heard someone say that they only gave 40% of what they’re capable of to their company job. They save the rest of their time and energy for themselves.
When I told a coworker about it later, I said that I’d feel too guilty to do that. But then we talked about how we burned out earlier in our careers because we pushed to the limit for years. And how it wasn’t worth the exhaustion and sacrifices to our personal lives.
If I could go back in time, I would do it differently. I’d stick more closely to a 40-hour work week and make more time for friends, hobbies, and relaxing. I probably would have had the same level of job success without the burnout.
It’s hard to succeed in your job if you don’t fit in with the workplace culture
I recently heard someone say that the ability to succeed in the workplace depends on how well you adapt to the culture.
I wish I had learned that lesson at the start of my career. It could have spared me years of fighting to survive in workplaces where I would never have fit in.
I’ve had jobs that I stayed at too long past my expiration date. After the honeymoon phase, I slowly realized that the way I approached my work was not what those organizations wanted. Worse, in one of those roles, my work ethics were not aligned with the team’s.
If I could go back in time, I would have started looking for new roles as soon as I sensed that what I brought to those jobs — including my capabilities, ideals, and personality — were not valued. Instead, I burned out while putting my energy into trying to fit in better and succeed despite the environment. Towards the end, all my energy went to coping one day at a time.
What a waste.
On the other hand, I’ve been fortunate to experience some roles that were a great fit. My managers understood and supported what I was working on and how I did my job. I was mentored by people I respected. I could put my energy into my projects instead of navigating politics and temperamental managers. My skills and personality meshed with team’s charter and culture.
I accomplished a lot for those organizations.
I thrived.
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