What do you do if you're a product manager experiencing burnout and need coping mechanisms?

Recognizing signs of burnout is crucial. Here are some examples I could think of: 1) Feeling constantly tired or drained, experiencing headaches, muscle tension, or other physical ailments without any underlying medical cause. 2) Feeling emotionally drained, irritable, or emotionally detached from work and colleagues. 3) Difficulty in feeling motivated or enthusiastic about work tasks. 4) Experiencing a decline in job performance despite efforts to maintain productivity. 5) Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or completing tasks efficiently. 6) Preferring to work alone and avoiding team activities or social events. Identifying these signs early can help PMs take proactive steps to address and prevent it from escalating further.

Recognizing signs of burnout requires a level of self-awareness and acceptance. For me, when I start to burn out I notice the first symptom is I dread doing something I used to enjoy doing. That's a precursor and a signal for me to pay attention to. If I don't heed the signal, then it leads to decreased energy, decreased motivation, and a cascading effect through other areas of life. Seeing the signal early enough that you can take action is key when it comes to burnout.

If you're experiencing burnout as a product manager: ?? Acknowledge Symptoms: Use tools like journaling or mindfulness apps to track your mood and energy levels. ?? Accept Limitations: Understand that burnout is not a sign of weakness, but a signal that your current workload may be unsustainable. ?? Seek Support: Reach out to a mentor, therapist, or support group to discuss your feelings and explore coping strategies. ?? Prioritize Self-Care: Utilize tools like Headspace or Calm to practice relaxation techniques and maintain a healthy work-life balance. ?? Save this post by "liking" if you're into Product/Growth as this will come in handy later.

Remember, it's not that serious. No one will ever care for your own mental health and betterment as much as you will. When you zoom out and realize you have a limited life with temporary work, it puts things into perspective. When you're on your deathbed you one thing I will assure you ios that you won't think about that promotion you have been neglecting your family for. Work your hardest during the work hours. Recognize your time is valuable and disconnect from everything after your working hours.

I agree that it is important to establish clear work-life boundaries by defining specific work hours and sticking to them. It is ok for a product manager to decide to stop checking work emails after 7:00 PM and commits to spending quality time with family or pursuing personal interests in the evenings. Practically, this can be established as a norm but have exceptions based on needed. There may be alternatives. For example, during the 2 years of COVID, I had blocked my calendar early afternoon to spend time with my son because I couldn't avoid the calls later in the evening.

Practicing self-care can be important, IF you know how to. For some, that means doing a side project. For others, it could be watching a movie or playing a video game. And yet for others, it could be working out or getting out into nature. A common challenge I've seen is that someone may have hobbies, but they are all tied to their professional life. This can make it challenging at times to turn things off and disconnect. My suggestion, get curious. Pursue your curiosity where it may lead.

It is important to incorporate short breaks throughout the workday to rest and recharge. Step away from the desk, take a walk outside, or practice relaxation techniques to relieve stress. One could set a timer to remind to take a 10-minute break every hour. During breaks, it is necessary to disconnect from work tasks, stretch, or enjoy a cup of tea to refresh mind. Activities such as exercise, meditation, getting enough sleep, and engaging in hobbies helps in promoting physical and mental well-being. These activities also help to relieve stress and recharge energy levels.

Your product is not your baby. Your coworkers are not your family. You don't owe your organisation anything: you do good work and in return you're paid a salary. You don't live to work - you work to *live*. All of the really important stuff in your life will happen outside of your job. If your job is making you feel guilty for not trying harder, being more successful, "going the extra mile" - and you're already pushing yourself hard - then your employers are being unreasonable. It's okay to take a step back and re-evaluate what you feel is a reasonable exchange of your effort and experience in return for what you're paid. If it isn't working for you, and your manager won't listen, vote with your feet.