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The Importance of Leisurely Leisure and Avoiding Burnout More and more health professionals encourage people to play. In fact some specialize in teaching people not only the importance of leisure in their lives, but also how they can do it. These counselors help busy and stressed people to examine if their fun is too much work. This article will discuss how to choose play activities that will complement your work activity and address ways to avoid “burnout. First, let’s look at making time for leisure. It is essential that we take time away from work to relax and renew our bodies and minds. Unfortunately there are a high percentage of people who are “workaholics” and never take time out for play. Sadly intellectually we know how this can lead to serious physical and emotional problems. Getting that message from our heads into action in the hectic lives we lead is a slow process. Secondly, how do we choose our leisure? Health professionals believe that we make mistakes in deciding what kind of recreational activities are best. Either 1) we have never given much thought about it 2) or we have allowed someone else to choose our leisure pursuits for us (husband enjoys it) 3) or we have chosen it for other than recreational reasons (business contacts) 4) Or we do it because it has status because it is “in”) 5) Or we stick to a particular activity even though it no longer meets present needs. Here are some ways for you to assess the unmet needs in you life and consider activities in your “playtime” to fill the voids inherent in your “work time.” *** If you feel that you don’t have control over your life in your work situation Maybe you need to have a chance to be in charge in your playtime. Instead of team activities, get involved in something for which you can develop the rules etc. ***If you work under direct supervision, choose a play activity where no one-including yourself—will be judging your performance. ***If you work with machines, use your playtime to re-discover the joys of being with other people, animals or nature. ***If you work as a member of a team, choose time alone for your play. Whatever you do, don’t join another team! ***If you work under a great deal of pressure, let yourself engage in play activities where you can “blow off steam.” Physical activities are ideal for this. ***If you feel like a failure in your work or personal life, do something that you KNOW you can do and do well. Keep your goals small and give yourself the opportunity to achieve them. ***If you work outside, play inside whenever you can. ***If you feel you spend too much time caring for others, give yourself a chance to be selfish—and don’t feel you have to apologize or explain. ***If your life’s work is dull and unchallenging, seek adventure in play. Consider hiking or backpacking or some other stimulating activity. ***If your work requires perfection and accuracy, choose play where you can dress and think sloppily. Leisure time that renews and recreates us is a great preventative for burnout. Burnout can happen to anyone and the older you get the greater your chances of burning out, Most burn-out is job related but people also can burnout on relationships, family duties or any situation that requires more energy that in gives rewards. Burnout usually happens gradually and it is easy to dismiss the early signals as fatigue irritability or even laziness. WHO BURNS OUT? The best and the brightest among us are the most vulnerable to burnout. Dynamic goal-oriented men and women who give 100% to the projects they undertake. People who cannot admit to their limitations and idealists who push themselves too hard and too long. Personality traits such as perfectionism, unrealistically high expectations of yourself can increase the risk of burnout. Jobs that require heave people contact, such as teachers, salespersons, or heave responsibility for others, such as doctors, and jobs that hare extremely monotonous and repetitive have a higher burnout potential than other fields. Personality traits set in childhood can be crucial in determining burnout potential. Therapists can help “burned-out” patients change attitudes and behaviors, such as: LACK OF FLEXIBILITY---rigid thinking, such as the belief that there is only “one right way” to do things. FEAR OF SUCCESS causes self-sabotage and repeated failures--a sure recipe for burnout FEAR OF FAILURE, when success is so desired and when the fear of losing it stunts our ability to take creative risks without a challenge. STRIVING FOR GOALS THAT AREN’T YOURS and living a childhood trying to meet parents’ dreams can sap the commitment new development in the 90’s include necessary to persist during difficult times later in life. PHYSICAL/EMOTIONAL ABUSE can contribute to anxiety disorders that can surprise upwardly mobile and successful persons as adults. A growing number of entrepreneurial “tigers” that suffer from “sudden-wealth syndrome” are contributing to those victims of burnout. Special centers have arisen to study these young men and woman and even network support groups are becoming popular. Dan Sullivan of the Toronto-based Company, “The Strategic Coach” reports, “Many tend to not have outside interests. Having free time is a negative to them. They can feel lost or insecure without work to do, because, to some extent, their work is an addiction.” SO GET FACCINATED! Inoculate yourself against burnout by: 1--Develop or improve your social support system. A network of supportive friends and family is a great buffer against burnout. 2—Develop sources if enjoyment and reward other than your regular job. Hobbies, community activities and playtime help. 3—Follow good health habits—regular exercise, proper diet, and enough sleep protect against physical symptoms of burnout 4—Pay attention to the warnings of the early stages of burnout—fatigue, irritability and depression. Don’t minimize them. 5—Be realistic about your goals and expectations. WE rarely get 100% of what we want or give 100% best effort—but 80 to 90% can get the job done! 6—Get help—The process goes more quickly with the help of a professional therapist who can assist you to regain your perspective and keep you from getting lost on the road to success and healthy living. ------------------------------
Dr.
Dorothy J. Marron, Ph.D., |
