Create Sustainable Performance: Maximize Your Potential Without Burning Out

There are few better feelings in life than achieving your goals.
Whether it’s scoring that all-important new client at work or getting excellent feedback on your 2000-word essay, maximizing your potential is simply good for the soul.
Our bodies even reward us for achievement by releasing a neurotransmitter and hormone called dopamine, which controls our brain’s reward center.
But the endless pursuit of success can sometimes cause burnout, hindering your mental health and your ability to meet your goals long-term.
Watching out for burnout doesn’t mean you have to give up on your goals – quite the opposite. It simply means staying in tune with your mental and physical well-being.
If you’re not sure how to spot burnout or what to do if you experience it, here’s a comprehensive guide on the signs to look out for and tips for combatting it.
Ready to reach your full potential without burning out?
Let’s dive in.
Burnout is a state of mental and physical exhaustion that manifests in feeling overwhelmed, fatigued, and struggling to enjoy work and social interactions.
Most of us have experienced burnout at some point or another, even if we didn’t have a name for it.
With 77% of US employees having experienced burnout at their current job, it’s a common issue in workplaces, especially if employees aren’t encouraged to take measures to protect their mental health. In fact, burnout is so prevalent that it’s responsible for 8% of occupational illnesses.
But while burnout is common in the workplace, you don’t have to have a full-time job to experience it. Burnout results from continual exposure to stressful situations, whether witnessing upsetting news, studying excessively, or caring for a family member.
Related: Avoid Employee Burnout with EOY Connection
If you’re experiencing some of the following symptoms, you could be suffering from burnout.
There’s no one cause of burnout. Although burnout from working is particularly common, you can experience burnout even when you’re not working.
Some of the most common causes of burnout include;
As with every illness, prevention is better than cure, but we know that’s not always possible. Here are some strategies to deal with burnout, whether you’re preventing it from happening or already going through it.
Chop Wood and Carry Water
According to TaskHuman Coach Liz Harlow, “creating a mindful flow in everyday chores or routines can open into serious gratitude and joy.” This is a practice that takes time to develop but simply appreciating the steadiness of our daily routines can lead to more peace and less stress.
Set Boundaries
If a primary cause of your burnout is people asking too much of you, set boundaries. Whether that’s at work or with loved ones, clearly state what you are and aren’t able to take on, and won’t budge – even if people make you feel guilty for it.
Reevaluate Your Priorities
If you’re simply dealing with too many tasks or priorities, something’s got to give. Prioritize everything and adjust your time accordingly. If anything can be dropped or outsourced, do it temporarily.
Get Enough Sleep
Feeling tired can exacerbate burnout and worsen physical and mental health. Aim for 7-9 hours of good-quality sleep a night to keep your health in check.
Ask for Help
Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Speak to a trusted friend or family member about your feelings or seek support from a professional.
As they say, a problem shared is a problem halved.
Try Calming Activities
Activities such as yoga and meditation have been shown to reduce stress. In your free time outside of work or your studies, participate in activities that engage your parasympathetic nervous system, helping you to cultivate a calmer overall mood.
‘Okay,’ I hear you cry, ‘I’m down with avoiding burnout, but how do I still manage to achieve my goals?’.
A common misconception about combating burnout is that it means entirely giving up on your goals or work. That idea couldn’t be further from the truth.
Preventing burnout makes it easier to achieve your goals. If your stress levels are under control, you’ll find it easier to concentrate and avoid procrastinating.
Remember to set yourself achievable goals rather than setting the bar higher and higher until your objectives become impossible.
Put in place a safety system you can practice whenever you feel burnout creeping in.
Safety strategies could include speaking to a trusted friend, colleague, or family member, taking time away from work, or participating in stress-beating activities such as mindfulness, meditation, and yoga.
Other top and most actionable takeaways that can help you perform well while avoiding burnout include the following.
You can think of this as your anti-burnout, maximum productivity checklist!
Reaching your full potential doesn’t mean reaching goals at the expense of your mental health, and you don’t need to push yourself until you reach burnout. While many of us are different, working until we reach burnout is an unsustainable way to live, and we’ll crash, feel awful, and spend even more time trying to recover, which can lead to us feeling even more behind.
Instead, always remember that when you look after yourself inside and out, success will follow.
Need help creating a burnout prevention plan? Connect with Liz Harlow or another TaskHuman coach to get the help you need.