What do you do if your relationship building career is causing burnout?

1 Identify the signs

The first step to deal with burnout is to recognize the warning signs before it gets worse. Some common signs of burnout are feeling tired, irritable, cynical, or detached from your work and clients; losing interest or motivation in your tasks and goals; having difficulty concentrating or making decisions; experiencing physical symptoms such as headaches, insomnia, or low immunity; and feeling isolated, depressed, or anxious. If you notice any of these signs, don't ignore them or hope they will go away. Acknowledge that you need to take action and seek help if necessary.

2 Set boundaries

One of the reasons why relationship building careers can cause burnout is that they often involve blurred or unclear boundaries between work and personal life. You may feel pressured to be available, responsive, and accommodating at all times, even when it interferes with your own needs and priorities. To avoid this, you need to set and communicate clear boundaries with your clients, colleagues, and managers. For example, you can establish your working hours and days, limit the number of calls or emails you handle per day, and decline requests that are unreasonable or outside your scope. You also need to respect your own boundaries and stick to them, even if it means saying no or delegating some tasks.

3 Take breaks

Another way to prevent or reduce burnout is to take regular breaks from your work and interactions. This can help you recharge your energy, relax your mind and body, and regain your perspective and enthusiasm. You can take breaks in different ways, such as scheduling some downtime in your daily routine, taking a vacation or a sabbatical, or engaging in hobbies or activities that you enjoy and that make you feel good. You can also use your breaks to practice self-care, such as meditating, exercising, eating well, sleeping enough, and seeking support from your friends or family.

5 Reconnect with your purpose

Finally, one of the most effective ways to overcome burnout is to reconnect with your purpose and passion for your work. Remember why you chose your relationship building career in the first place, and what value and impact you bring to your clients and organization. Think about the positive outcomes and benefits of your work, such as solving problems, helping people, building relationships, or achieving goals. You can also revisit your vision, mission, and values, and align them with your work and actions. By doing this, you can restore your sense of meaning, fulfillment, and motivation in your work, and avoid losing sight of what matters to you.

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?