I Burned Out

It caught up with me at once. I spend weeks entering progress into the schedule, reviewing outputs with project managers, putting together the month-end project report, and hosting weekly meetings. It was inevitable that the project would finish late.?

To make matters worse, the people around me seemed filled with a strange combination of frustration, blame, and apathy. Despite raising the red flag over and over, they seemed to not care or even realize that the current forecast wasn’t achievable. Is everyone simply pretending? Do I have to sit through another one of these dreadful meetings??

As the creator of the schedule, the self-doubt wrapped around me like a straight jacket. I started feeling strangled by feelings of waning motivation and drive. Dark thoughts started to creep in. Would I be fired? How did I get into this mess of a job? The hours mounted. The week's drug on and on as I spent countless days coming in before the sunrise and leaving after dark. I felt like the lamest vampire on the planet.?

It’s important to understand that everyone goes through seasons like this, especially if you have been in the game long enough. It’s practically inevitable. The pressures of project delivery mixed with the cyclical nature of project controls can create a nasty cocktail primed to burn out the very best. If you are facing the soul-crushing effects of burnout, here are a few things I like to remind myself to get through tough times.?

• No One is Immune - It’s normal to have these feelings. Everyone in just about every profession experiences burnout a few times throughout their careers. There are going to be ups and downs along the way. Oftentimes, getting to the other side of burnout opens the door for moments of tremendous growth.?
• Focus What’s in Your Control - During spells of burnout, every little thing that goes wrong will be amplified. You’ll worry about things that you normally wouldn’t. It’s critical to recognize what’s in your sphere of control versus what’s outside of it. Let the stuff outside of your control go.?
• Accept That Projects Get Delivered Late - Many, many, many projects get delivered late. What you’re experiencing isn’t anything new to the industry. Trust me. I’ve built some pretty epically flawed schedules that have ended in failure. Ask yourself. At the time of schedule creation, did you do your very best with the information you were given? The answer is most likely yes. So, unless you have a DeLorean, there is no need to dwell on the past. Instead, capture some lessons and take those experiences with you to the next project.?
• Spend Fewer Hours Behind Your Desk - You’re probably feeling like you are drowning and can’t catch up, so you bury your head in your computer screen hoping that it will help you find a magic solution. Unfortunately, the isolation and long hours can make your burnout worse. Instead, mix up your schedule. Leave earlier or show up later than usual a couple of days a week. Take a long lunch with some coworkers. Walk the jobsite and talk to the craftsmen. Work in a different environment. Do anything to break up the monotony.?
• Talk to a Friend or Mentor - Unloading your feelings and getting an outside perspective can make a huge difference. As I mentioned before, many people have faced similar challenges with burnout. Finding a mentor or buddy who you can talk to about your experience can help.?
• Try Something New - Spend some time working on a side project or learning something new. While the project might be a dumpster fire, there is always room for growth. This might sound crazy to take on more if you are already feeling burned out, so approach this one cautiously. However, I’ve found that doing something that I’m really passionate about can help make the rest of the work seem much better.?

My hope is that sharing my experience will be helpful to anyone trying to conquer burnout and get out of the rut. Prolonged exposure to burnout can lead to serious mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. If you’ve tried the suggestions above and feel like it isn’t helping, you may need to seek additional support. There are some great resources available online through the National Institute of Mental Health and the APA’s Center for Workplace Mental Health. You can also schedule an appointment with a local counselor or mental health professional. At the end of the day, nothing is more important than your mental health and well-being.?