From Burnout to Bliss: Navigating Life with Passion and Prioritization

Do you ever find yourself in the middle of a pile of deadline work? All work seems to seek the same level of importance. But is it possible to treat everything as a priority work? No, it's not.

Everyone will tell you to set a priority list and work based on that list. But sometimes, it's too complicated to even maintain a priority list when there is a business urgency work. Then, no matter how you have set your list of priority, it will definitely change. You just become a firefighter and jump on to solve the problem at hand and eventually burnout by this firefighting.

It's so easy to tell someone that, "See, I'm following this kind of list which helped me to figure out how I want to work. Use this same technique, and you'll also be able to sort out your work priority." But how likely is that method to work for me? What if it proves the worst technique for me? It worked for someone, doesn't mean it will work for everyone. One can propose a technique that can be used as a baseline, but it should be tweaked and modified based on the person and their needs.

Finding Balance in the Diverse Life of a Full-Time Engineer and Volunteer:

I am a full-time Engineer, working at Intel while maintaining many volunteer collaborations with different IEEE-based groups and societies and the PMI Portland Chapter. I'm also involved in volunteer work within Intel. Now when people see me, they always ask me how I manage my time to maintain everything and find some free time for myself and keep my sanity intact.

My answer is simple: passion is the key. If I love to do something, no matter how much time those require, I never ever feel exhausted or burnout, but I do feel burnout when a particular task is not something I love to do but needs to be completed as a job requirement. Only then I feel that I can't focus. Otherwise, I'll always prioritize my work and finish those with my full potential. Instead of burnout, I feel energetic.

Now the question is, do we like what we do in our day-to-day life? It can be our job or our household chore, or anything. If the answer is no, then you know you are doing something fundamentally wrong.

If you don't love or feel passionate about your job responsibility, and no matter how many ways you set the priority level or how many techniques you use, at the end of the day, you will not be satisfied; you will never be happy.

Now another question you may ask yourself is how do you measure your success and mental peace? What factor motivates you? If you know the answer to these questions, then you know what to fix and how to set the priority.

Every person is different, and they have different motivation factors, so based on that, their priority list is also different.

Prioritize Your Passion over Routine and Define Success on Your Terms:

Extensive research consistently reinforces the notion that aligning one's profession with their passion not only enhances job satisfaction but also serves as a powerful buffer against burnout. A study featured in the Journal of Counseling Psychology stands as a noteworthy example, revealing that individuals who perceive their work as a true calling, rather than a mere job, report significantly higher levels of well-being while experiencing reduced burnout.

The vast repository of research and articles available online delving into this subject, all underscoring the same fundamental truth: when we neglect to pursue our passions and instead settle for work that feels routine or obligatory, it paves the way for the insidious emergence of burnout. The gradual erosion of interest, enthusiasm, and motivation becomes inevitable under such circumstances.

Contrastingly, when we immerse ourselves in tasks and professions that align with our passions and ignite our inner drive, the concept of burnout all but dissipates. Even during long and demanding work hours, individuals who are genuinely passionate about their pursuits find themselves imbued with boundless energy, often losing track of time as they wholeheartedly engage in their work. This symbiotic relationship between passion and professional fulfillment is a testament to the transformative power of aligning one's heart with their labor, ultimately fostering not just job satisfaction, but a profound sense of purpose and vitality.

So, ultimately there is no formula for handling your job effectively. People can teach or show you a certain list of do's and don'ts, but following a list can never give you the sense of achievement, even though you may have done the job at hand. To be honest, this rigorous list-following technique increases my cortisol level and gives me anxiety and stress. Instead of solving my problems, it adds to my problems list. So, we should be mindful of our own needs and passion, and based on that, we need to set our definition of priority. And our definition of success will definitely not be the same as others. You may define a completely new ways or techniques for your success.

To get a sense of achievement, one needs to follow their passion and be consistent on that path. In our journey, we may find sometimes are hostile and difficult than others, and it's difficult to follow our inner calling. We need to be persistent even if we fail following our path.

I tried to keep a journal listing down my achievements, even a little sense of achievement. The reason I do this is to remind myself when I feel like crumbling inside and losing vision or becoming despair.

Whenever I feel down and find myself in a despair mood, I try to remember these below quotes from 'Kung Fu Panda' movie:

• "One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it.” – Master Oogway
• "Your mind is like this water, my friend. When it gets agitated, it becomes difficult to see. But if you allow it to settle, the answer becomes clear." – Master Oogway
• "Your real strength comes from being the best you can be. Who are you? What are you good at? What makes you, you?" – Kung Fu Panda, Po
• “The only true limit is the one you set for yourself.” – Shifu
• “There is no secret ingredient. It’s just you.” – Shifu

Conclusion: The Art of Balance - Passion and Individuality in Priority Setting:

To maintain the balance in your work, your life, your family and social relationships, and responsibilities, you need to set priorities. And to do that, there is no magic formula. It’s a combination of willpower, mental strength, tenacity, persistence, resiliency, flexibility, and above all, passion.

So next time, think clearly about what motivates you and where you find your passion and sense of achievement. Based on that, create your own list, which will be distinctive based on the person. Be your own boss and set your own rules instead of following others. You may gain ideas from others and be inspired by them, but when you are making your own list, it should be designed based on your passion, career, and life goal.

I believe in the quote, "I am the captain of my ship and master of my fate"- Dr. Ivan Joseph.