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Yesterday I posted an article about the warning signs that you may be experiencing burnout. Do you feel like the young lady pictured at the left? Or are you feeling a little more sluggish?

Do not fear, I have some helpful suggestions that should be able to help you break out of the cycle of stress, get some rest, and recover from the burnout that you are experiencing.

Take a Vacation

Even one day off, away from the office or other responsibilities, can have an amazing effect on your state of mind. Important note: This means not working, not checking e-mail from the office, not calling people and giving directions. It means taking some time off for you. Your body needs to rest. Your mind needs to decompress. Are you worried about things that you feel that you should be doing? Take a few minutes and do a brain dump - write down everything and put the paper in your organizer/ Tickler for your next Weekly Review. Now that everything has been recorded, there is no need to worry about it.

Join a (Sports) Team

A real one, that gets together and does something physical. Fantasy football leagues do not count. Not getting enough exercise is a contributor to burnout and depression. Getting in shape, improving your cardiovascular health, and the social aspects of organized teams are all very good for overall health. As for social aspects:

Make Time for Your Friends

Socializing is relaxing and energizing. It can give you a better perspective on your situation, and others may have input or advice that you haven’t thought of. You might be surprised, other people have gone through burnout too. You can brainstorm and build your ideas with people that are experiencing the same difficulties.

Make Some Time for Yourself

Go to the movies, read that book you’ve been meaning to get to. Or get back into a hobby or activity that you enjoy, but have stopped doing because you’re just too busy. If you don’t have a hobby, well, here are some ideas.

Prepare Yourself to Say “No”

Many people cannot say “No” to new obligations and activities. If you are overwhelmed with things to get done, perhaps this is not the time to take on a new one. Saying “No” does not mean that you do not like or will not help another person. It means that you know the value of your time, and that you are being honest with yourself (and the person asking) about your available time/energy.

 Taking control of your time, and engaging the practice of even one of these suggestions should be enough to tip the balance back into your favor. Once it tips, you are on your way to recovery. I invite you to share your own “burnout recovery” ideas in the Comments.

If you found this post useful, please share it with your friends on Twitter using the tinylink http://tinyurl.com/5zs93b. Thanks, I appreciate it! Feel free to comment below, I enjoy discussing these ideas. ~@Stephen