Achieve More in 2023 without Burnout

What if you could tick all your 2023 goals and some more, without feeling depleted of every ounce of energy you have?

It’s September tomorrow! For us in the Philippines, the “ber” months signal the start of the Christmas season. Just the thought of it makes me slightly anxious of the holiday plus end-of-year rush –- heavy traffic, crowded public places, and simply busier days as you try to clear every backlog on your list.

Most of the people I talk to these days are busier than before. And though it’s mostly a good kind of busy (i.e. more clients, more experiences, more room for growth, more interactions, etc.) we still must be wary not to push ourselves to the point of burn out.

How do you finish the year strong while staying sane and happy? Here are four Ps to help you.

Remember the lessons of the pandemic

Though the pandemic speeded up the rate of digital technology adoption, it also paved the way to slowing us down. Many have turned to growing plants or adopting pets. According to The Guardian , almost 9 million dogs and 5 million cats were acquired in the US during the pandemic. Many left their jobs? by choice (remember The Great Resignation ?) after having the time to reflect on their own priorities, purpose and perspectives.?

Make Room for Pause

Intentionally make room for pauses in your schedule – as part of your day, your week, your month and your quarter.?

Yes, vacations benefit your overall wellbeing . But it isn’t also a good idea to push yourself to exhaustion as you inch your way to your next pit stop. Having regular pockets of pauses during your day helps clear your mind, energize you and gain new perspectives.?

Here are some ideas:

During the day

• Spend a few minutes walking or stretching outside your home or office
• Drink coffee or have a snack without doing anything else - no phone scrolling, no music, no watching. Just drink or eat.?
• Spend time cuddling your pet, watering plants, talking to your partner or playing with your kids

During the week

• Schedule a night out for movie, dinner or drinks with friends or loved ones
• Spend an hour each week for one of your hobbies - painting, crafting, cooking, writing, etc.
• Make a list of restaurants to try or places to go and try one out each week

Check out my post about getting a double dose of Vitamin G.

Manage Your Pace

According to Competitive Edge , in running, pacing refers to the rate at which you run (i.e., how quickly you run a certain distance). The main premise behind it is to ensure that you preserve enough energy for your entire workout, which is an especially important factor for longer distance running. Without pacing, you risk potential issues like burnout and overtraining.?

We need to pace ourselves in life too. We have limited energy and resources which we need to mindfully allocate to our different priorities. As much as we’d love to have more than 24 hours in a day, we simply can’t… unless we move to another planet.?

To better manage your pace, ask yourself, “Is it practical and realistic?” When working on projects, I often encounter project managers who are too optimistic about milestones and timelines as if members of the team have nothing else to do. Don’t forget to consider other commitments on your plate too - yes, that includes the time you’ve set aside to pause.?

Reassess your Priorities

Sure, you’ve got goals and targets to achieve. But be careful not to bite off more than you can chew. To assess whether a goal or task is worth prioritizing or pursuing, reflect on these questions…

• Does this bring me a step closer to fulfilling my purpose or my greatest dreams?
• How will I feel after accomplishing this??
• How will I feel if I do not accomplish this?
• Is this something that needs to be done now??

Reflecting on these questions is especially helpful when you are pulled towards shiny objects .?

Also remind yourself…

• Not everything is important
• Not everything is urgent
• You can say no
• You can’t be everything to everyone

Be Fully Present

In class, when your teacher calls your name, you raise your hand and say, “Present!” to signify your physical presence. But sometimes, even as we enter adulthood, many of us still define presence as mere attendance.

We join meetings just for the sake of being there. We attend events so people won’t have anything to say about us. We join training because we are required to.

Being fully present goes beyond that. Being fully present means giving your undivided attention. It means you are here - body, mind, soul and spirit. It means being free from any internal noise or distractions. Being present allows you to relish and enjoy every moment - to “suck all the marrow out of life” (Henry David Thoreau).?

How can you be fully present? Do all of the above!

Make room for pause, so you can think clearly and focus on every moment.

Manage your pace, so you’re not always rushing from one task to another.

Reassess your priorities, so you’re not distracted by the long list of unfinished items on your list.

Final Note: Achieving MORE in Life

As I flipped the pages of my The Paper Bunny planner to September, I came across this page:

“Destroy the idea that you have to be constantly working or grinding in order to be successful. Embrace the concept that rest, recovery and reflection are essential parts of the progress towards a successful and happy life.” - Unknown

Have you ever asked yourself, what does achieving “MORE” mean to you??

Maybe it’s not about having many achievements or exceeding all your targets. Maybe more isn’t really about quantity, but the quality of life you’re living. Have you loved much? How full does your heart feel? Have you spent your time on people and causes that mean a lot to you? Have you given yourself more care?

What will make you feel most full and complete when the year ends?

Focus on what matters. Life is short. ??

Pause. Pace. Prioritize. (Be) Present.

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Coach Kurly de Guzman is a Career and Leadership Coach and one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices based in the Philippines. She continuously seeks ways to help coaches, leaders and teams thrive through her newsletter, leadership and career development workshops as well as group and 1:1 coaching sessions for clients.?

To work with Kurly, send an email to [email protected] or book an exploratory call to discuss your organization’s needs here .