I remember reading a periodical on burnout within the first few months of ministry some 28 years ago. Burnout was a hot new topic back then and was starting to show up among clergy in increasing numbers.
It was several years later when I encountered it personally. I was fortunate that it was caught in time before any lasting effects were realized. It was enough of an experience or close call that it did teach some lessons.
Burnout is something that can be avoided, here are a few things that may help to avoid it or in some cases assist in recovery:
1. Control your commitments each day
It is essential during the day to have alone time to refuel and refresh.
Back to back commitments, phone calls and meetings can be very wearing.
Schedule in unscheduled, uncommitted time each day.
2. Control Technology
Sometimes it is necessary to give yourself a break from technology. Some have done this by taking lengthy breaks from Tweeting or Facebook. Others limit the use of their smart phones and set parameters around when they will respond, when it will be off or on and have simply dialed back on availability. Face it, even Jesus withdrew from the crowds. It is just using wisdom to know we have limitations and live within them. There is nothing wrong with saying,"these are my office hours, please contact me during them. "
If someone has made the effort to stop in to your office to see you or go for lunch or coffee, it is simply rude to take a call with them sitting there. It reduces stress if we deal with one topic and one person at a time.
Another thing that may help is to not have call waiting. Something about it shoots my blood pressure up when I am engaged in a conversation and someone feels the need to call me three times in 2 minutes and interrupt the call with their never ending beeps. I don't know what the rule book says about putting someone on hold in the middle of a conversation but it likely says it is rude.
Another tip, is this, if you are going to lug a laptop home after a full days work to do even more work, you need to get a life. You really ought to be investing that time in fun, recreation, relaxation, family or friendship.
3. Control your workload
It is essential to be able to control how much work you take on. The ability to say "no" to a boss or a colleague and a firm but pleasant explanation as to why you cannot take on more work will keep you healthy and sane.
One of the most dangerous places we can find ourselves is being in the place where we have no control over how much work we take on as we enable others around us to do less.
4. Keep the Sabbath or keep a Sabbath--doesn't need an explanation
5. Listen
If you hear your spouse, children, parents, friends or acquaintances using phrases such as:
Are you okay?
I am worried about you.
When is the last time you took a day off, a holiday?
You never have time for us.
What do you do beside work?
If you hear these things consider them the voice of God. He is using people to get your attention. Listen, ask questions like, "What are you observing about me? or Do I seem stressed? Why are you concerned? What makes you say that?"
If you do these things it is likely that in a matter of a few short days you will feel happier, rested and much more at ease.
If we are going to survive or thrive in this technologically charged fast paced world we need to continue to practice the discipline of taking back control and establishing boundaries and limits to live within.
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