Dedication VS Wellbeing - Going the Extra Mile without Burning Out

I have this as absolute truth in my head:

If you are constantly busy and overworked, you either have too much of a workload for you and your company should hire aditional resources or... you suck at time management and prioritization!

Now, being constantly busy does not necessarily equate to being productive. In fact, it can be quite the opposite. The ones always busy find themselves caught in a constant stream of endless tasks, but they very often achieve little to no progress.

But busyness is often worn as a badge of honor. It's a status symbol that implies importance, productivity, and ambition.

In many cases, people believe that the busier they are, the more successful they must be. This expectation can push individuals into a relentless cycle of overcommitment and perpetual busyness.

To make matters worse with remote work and 24/7 tech in our hands, the lines between work and personal life have become increasingly blurred. The accessibility of email and messaging apps on our smartphones means that we are always connected to our jobs, making it tempting to respond to emails at all hours of the day and night.

Taking all this into consideration, it's not really a surprise we see an increase in burned out people independently of their area of business.

Of course there may be times when it's necessary to put in extra hours to meet a deadline or address an urgent issue, but this should not become the norm.

Whilst going the extra mile can demonstrate your dedication, commitment, and passion for your job, if you are constantly at 200%, it will not be sustainable in the long run. We all know this, so why do we as society adopt this "always above and beyond" as our default culture? And what can we do to (try to) change it?

• Learn to Say No: Declining additional tasks when you're already stretched to your max should not be seen sign of weakness or non commitment. It's a sign of self-awareness and effective time management.
• Set Realistic Goals: Be realistic about what you can accomplish in a day. With the deadlines you can commit to. Overloading yourself with tasks is a sure way to burn out.
• Set Boundaries: To others and to yourself! Working hard can become addictive. Ask yourself: Am I seeking external validation? Finding motivation and satisfaction in your own work can reduce the need for constant external recognition.
• Seek Support: Don't hesitate to reach out to your colleagues or manager when you need help or additional resources to complete something. Teamwork makes the dream work!

So there you have it... it's admirable to occasionally go the extra mile for your company, but it's equally crucial to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Its better to give 40% when that's all you can muster, than to constanly give 200% and be left with nothing to give in the long run.

A burned out employee has 0% to give!