What do you do if your passion for Facility Management (FM) is fading due to burnout?

2 Identify the sources of stress

Stress is an unavoidable part of any profession, particularly in FM, where complex and dynamic situations, multiple responsibilities, and varying expectations are the norm. Nevertheless, not all stress is equal - some sources are more manageable and modifiable than others. To reduce stress levels and prevent burnout, it's essential to recognize the main causes of your stress and how they affect you. Common sources of stress for FM professionals include lack of control or autonomy over work, unrealistic or conflicting demands or deadlines, inadequate resources or support, poor communication or feedback, role ambiguity or conflict, lack of recognition or reward, and ethical dilemmas or values mismatch. Once these sources have been identified, you can prioritize them and decide which ones to eliminate, reduce, or cope with. For instance, you could delegate tasks, negotiate deadlines, ask for more clarity or guidance, seek more feedback or appreciation, or align your work with your values.

3 Practice self-care and wellness

Self-care and wellness practices are essential for combating burnout and restoring passion for FM. Pay attention to your physical, mental, emotional, and social needs and find healthy ways to meet them. This could include getting enough sleep and rest, eating well and staying hydrated, exercising regularly and staying active, meditating or relaxing, pursuing hobbies or interests, learning new skills or knowledge, seeking professional or personal development, connecting with friends, family, or colleagues, and seeking support or counseling. By practicing self-care and wellness, you can boost your energy, resilience, and confidence while also improving your mood, outlook, and creativity. Additionally, it can help you prevent or reduce the negative effects of stress and burnout on your health, performance, and satisfaction.

4 Reconnect with your purpose and passion

Reigniting your passion for FM can be done by reconnecting with your purpose and passion. Reflect on why you chose this career, what you enjoy about it, and the impact you make. To do this, review your goals and achievements, celebrate successes and milestones, recognize your strengths and contributions, seek feedback or testimonials, join professional associations or networks, attend events or conferences, read articles or books, watch videos or podcasts, and mentor or coach others. Reconnecting with your purpose and passion can help you rediscover the meaning and fulfillment of your work, as well as the value it brings to others. Furthermore, it can open up new opportunities, challenges, and inspirations.

5 Seek balance and flexibility

Finally, to prevent or recover from burnout and maintain your passion for FM, you need to seek balance and flexibility in your work and life. This could include saying no to unnecessary or unreasonable requests, asking for help when needed, scheduling breaks and downtime, planning ahead, organizing and streamlining your work, automating or outsourcing some tasks, using technology or tools to enhance efficiency, exploring alternative or flexible work arrangements, and making time for yourself and your loved ones. By doing so, you can reduce your workload, stress, and pressure while increasing productivity, performance, and satisfaction. Plus, you can experience more freedom, variety, and fun in your work and life.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?