Work rut/burnout

[Dgilbertson]

I have a very similar but different situation. I own my own business, which has experienced major growth over the last 10 years but lately I’m constantly stressed and burnt out. I’m financially stable enough to retire and could also hire more people to take some “weight” off my shoulders but there are challenges to both scenarios that I won’t get into. I’m only 40, so I don’t think I’m really ready to be done working for another 10 years or so when my kids are out of high school. I probably experience the most stress dealing with people. Not just my employees but everyone involved with trying to operate my business.

Here are some examples that have helped me recharge and relieve stress:

-Take a vacation with my family or spouse. Always have the next vacation booked so there is something to look forward to, even if it’s just a long weekend away.

-Putting the screen down and doing something outside: boating, fishing, riding UTV’s, golfing, mowing, anything at all. Especially if my kids enjoy doing it and it keeps them off their phones or PS5. My wife calls it having a “90’s day” where we can’t use our phones.

-Going on regular dates with my wife to movies, concerts, restaurants, sporting events, etc.

-Watching my kids play sports or other activities.

-Exercise. I’m not nearly as athletic as I used to be but I still enjoy exercising, especially with my kids. It’s fun to show them I can still play some basketball.

My wife has really been pushing the last two years to redo our backyard and put in a pool. I don’t really want to deal with the headache and expense, but now I’m coming around to the idea. It would be pretty relaxing to have a pool and hot tub. Add a built in grilling area, putting green, and fire pit and it will be a backyard oasis that we can enjoy for many years.

Also, do natural recreation pond. Your post sounds like maintaining a pool would be added stress

The gardening/natural side of maintaining that ecosystem could be a healthy hobby as well

 

[MLawrence]

Work sucks.

I know.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

Yoga has helped me with burn out. Also, ashwagandha helps your mood. One of the only natural things I've seen pretty great results from.

 

[CYdTracked]

It's a fine line really. I've been with the same company over 20 years and there have been times I hated my job and thought about looking for something else but eventually my situation changed and it got better. Overall right now while I don't hate my job itself the toxic culture of the company in general is not motivating. I'm pretty fortunate I have a very hands-off manager that just lets me do my job without being a micro manager and he and I have never had any issues as I am one of his top performers and he doesn't have to deal with any complaints about my work so he just lets me do my thing since it doesn't generate any drama or complaints for him.

I've worked for a micro manager, worked for a manager that was too hands off that I could not even get ahold of him when I did need to engage him, and have gone through a merger and some re-orgs over my time. There were some times it got so stressful I started looking for other jobs but usually my situation got better if I stuck it out and I found that it would be tough to find a comparable job that had the same pay and benefits I make. Now I am so far in with my current company that not only would I have a hard time finding something with the same pay and benefits but if they laid me off tomorrow I'd basically get a year's worth of compensation which I'm qualified enough that I should be able to find another job in a reasonable amount of time and essentially get 2 paychecks with that overlap to knock off a year closer to retiring.

Best advice I would say is never let work be the most important thing in your life. If you don't have a good work to personal life balance then that is a good reason to look for another job. That has never been the case for me, overtime has always been voluntary. If I was working 50-60 hours a week I probably would have left by now. My wife has gone through multiple job changes over her career. Shes been a manager twice and that would push her to 60+ hours most weeks and wipe her out. It got to the point where she knew that working that many hours would not be good for our marriage and our family life so when she has ever got to that point she has been quick to find something less demanding. For some people their career advancement is what makes them happy and for others their time away from work is what makes them happy. That is the balance most people will struggle with over their career.

 

[BCClone]

I have a very similar but different situation. I own my own business, which has experienced major growth over the last 10 years but lately I’m constantly stressed and burnt out. I’m financially stable enough to retire and could also hire more people to take some “weight” off my shoulders but there are challenges to both scenarios that I won’t get into. I’m only 40, so I don’t think I’m really ready to be done working for another 10 years or so when my kids are out of high school. I probably experience the most stress dealing with people. Not just my employees but everyone involved with trying to operate my business.

Here are some examples that have helped me recharge and relieve stress:

-Take a vacation with my family or spouse. Always have the next vacation booked so there is something to look forward to, even if it’s just a long weekend away.

-Putting the screen down and doing something outside: boating, fishing, riding UTV’s, golfing, mowing, anything at all. Especially if my kids enjoy doing it and it keeps them off their phones or PS5. My wife calls it having a “90’s day” where we can’t use our phones.

-Going on regular dates with my wife to movies, concerts, restaurants, sporting events, etc.

-Watching my kids play sports or other activities.

-Exercise. I’m not nearly as athletic as I used to be but I still enjoy exercising, especially with my kids. It’s fun to show them I can still play some basketball.

My wife has really been pushing the last two years to redo our backyard and put in a pool. I don’t really want to deal with the headache and expense, but now I’m coming around to the idea. It would be pretty relaxing to have a pool and hot tub. Add a built in grilling area, putting green, and fire pit and it will be a backyard oasis that we can enjoy for many years.

Don’t count on your Christmas bonus to pay for it. You could get jelly of the month membership instead.