You’ve been facing breakdowns in a completely wrong way
Tell me how many times does it happen to you that you are doing good in the projects that you are dealing with then just after some time comes a point where you don’t feel like you’ll be able to continue giving the best to it? I’m sure it must be happening a plenty of times that sometimes when you start something you have a certain enthusiasm and energy towards it but it doesn’t remains the same after some time.
It’s not something that happens only with you, it’s something everybody goes through on a regular basis. I'm a professor and there are so many types of work that I do which I start with all the great enthusiasm in me but end up slowing down or being frustrated by it with time. Let’s take an example of evaluating answer sheets. It sounds fun initially and when I start, I do it with all the focus and positivity. But, when you have to do hundreds of such answer sheets then it becomes difficult to keep up with the same energy the way you kept with the initial answer sheets. But that’s how I understood that just because I’m getting tired or maybe frustrated by this process, doesn’t really mean that I get to compromise with the quality of my work. I’ve got to be in my best senses when I check the first copy as well as the last.
So, there I understood that how I feel about it should never change the outcome of the work. If I’m tired, why should the hardworking student who studied and performed well in the exam should suffer by not getting their answer sheets evaluated properly. And that’s the idea I’m sharing here today that how breakdowns are supposed to improve us instead of making us miserable.
Breakdowns aren’t really what they look like:
Breakdowns in our work are often seen as negative experiences, moments of frustration and failure that we'd rather avoid. I would argue that these breakdowns can actually be a sign of growth. When we encounter challenges and obstacles in our work, we are forced to confront them and find new ways of approaching the problem. This process of trial and error can be uncomfortable and even painful, but it is also essential for personal and professional development. Breakdowns force us to step outside of our comfort zones and push ourselves to new limits. And when we finally overcome the challenge, we emerge stronger and more confident in our abilities.
When you don’t want to work because you feel like it’s been too much for you, that’s a sign of you leaving your comfort zone and remember that feeling of being uncomfortable at that point is where you actually start rising towards the next level of your growth journey. I often tell myself that I have work and I’ve got 10 days to finish it, but how much relaxation would it give me if I finish the whole work in the next 7 days and have those three days by my side to chill. The bit of exiting my comfort zone for a few days ultimately leads to happier and relaxed days for me for the days after.
The optimal solution:
The solution I’m suggesting here isn’t something magical that you haven’t heard before. In Fact it’s just a simple system which involves taking breaks. Every time you feel you are reaching a burnout phase, stop right away and go for a walk, play your favourite music to get re energised or maybe call a friend or someone close to divert a little bit.
The point is you have got to understand that every time you feel like you can’t go any further then there is no need to feel low about it. It’s not a sign of you being unable to perform as per the needed standard instead it’s the sign that shows you are making progress and that’s why the game is getting a level up. Every time you make progress in a video game you notice the next enemy is more powerful than the previous one and that same concept works with your daily projects. Every time you reach a new level of discomfort, that’s the sign of you reaching the next level so be happy about it.
Now, just how you equip your game’s hero with new powers and essential addons before facing the new enemy, you need to equip yourself as well with enough rest, headspace, calmness and energy to be ready to fight again.
Your re-energising process could include various things of your choice. For some people power naps work but for some people solo walks do wonders. Some people love to enjoy music when they are tired and some might just need another coffee. All I’m saying is that you don’t need to be very creative or have a buildup about how to get yourself ready again for the next level. All you need to do is just find what kind of breaks work for you and utilise it to enhance your performance on the things that you do.
When we take breaks, we give ourselves a chance to step back from our work, clear our minds, and come back to it with renewed energy and perspective. Yes, perspective is another game changer here because when the workload is high and we find ourselves doomed, it’s easy to think negatively and feel miserable. But as soon as you give yourself time, take a break and wait a little before responding to the situation, that’s where you give yourself a bright opportunity to find a new perspective for the problems you are dealing with and you exponentially increase your chances to come up with better solutions and optimal performance.
Key Takeaway:
There will always be problems when you grow up personally and professionally. The problems could be caused by your mind or maybe because of some external sources like coworkers or subordinates. It might push you to take intensified measures at times as it leads to breakdowns but remember a little bit of extra calm and taking some time will always help you to make better decisions.
Breaks are going to be decisive for you at testing times so never underestimate their effect on you. There are many different ways to take breaks, and the best approach will vary depending on your personal preferences and the nature of your work. But taking some time off to blow some steam away will ultimately lead you to create a better personal as well as professional lifestyle.
