Does Your Battery Need Recharging?

A technical support person in a pager company tells the story of a customer call to the customer service center from a man who repeatedly complained he was being paged by "Lucille." He was instructed that he would have to call her and tell her to stop paging him.

"She don't never leave no number, so I can't call her back," he said. After three such calls, someone thought to ask how he knew it was Lucille if she didn't leave a number.

"She leaves her name" was the reply. After establishing that the customer had a numeric-only pager, the light bulb came on. "How does she spell her name?" the service rep asked. "L-O-W C-E-L-L"

Are you operating on a low cell? Have you given 'til it hurts, then given some more?

In your work or personal life, are you approaching burnout, desperately in need of a battery change?

Burnout researchers Maslach and Jackson paint a picture of three major burnout symptoms.

1. Emotional exhaustion. Do you feel that you have nothing much left to give? Like you want to either explode or go and hide? Is your emotional energy level at an all-time low in work or home relations?

2. Depersonalization. Do you find yourself more cynical about people? Do you suspect their motives or expect the worst? If you are in a helping profession, do you find yourself thinking of people as "cases", diagnoses, or generically, simply as "problems"?

3. Reduced sense of accomplishment. Does it seem you are working harder and getting less done? Do you picture yourself in a squirrel cage walking and running, but going in circles and not getting anywhere?

If these three factors describe you, you could be burning out. Interestingly, it is typically the most committed people who are vulnerable to burnout. (The others don't care!)

If you saw yourself in this burnout picture, you can begin to recharge your batteries with these three strategies.

1. It's okay to say no ? really! It's not essential that everyone's needs (perceived or real) be met all the time, and it's certainly not your responsibility to keep everyone happy. Hang out with some people who like you but don't need anything. Learn to set your boundaries so that both your relationships and you will last longer.

2. Change something. When you are down, go on a vacation or even a weekend getaway. Think of a creative new way to get something done and do it differently. Sign up for a class to develop a new hobby. In your workaholic schedule, ink in some time for fun and play.

3. Revive your spirit. Spend some regular time alone connecting with your faith and nature. I highly recommend journaling, particularly prayer jounaling. Pause to count your blessings and give thanks. Notice the little answers to prayers. At work, remind yourself of the meaning and purpose of what you do. Recall times when you knew you were in the flow of what you were made to do, and look for opportunities to do more of that.

Balance your giving to others with these essential strategies for recharging your internal resources and, like the Energizer Bunny, you'll be able to keep on going and going and going.

Dr. Bev Smallwood is a psychologist who has worked with organizations across the globe for over 20 years. Her high-energy, high-content, high-involvement Magnetic Workplaces (r) programs provide dozens of practical strategies and skills that can be put to work immediately to:

  • build strong leaders who influence and develop others through serving

  • energize, motivate, and retain team members

  • successfully accomplish important organizational transitions

  • impress customers and build their loyalty

  • Review a complete list of her programs available for your convention or corporate meeting at the website, www.MagneticWorkplaces.com

    In The News:


    pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    10 Ways to Kick the Procrastination Habit

    I recently read about a survey (by the University of... Read More

    Quick Tips On Getting Motivated When You Dont Feel Like It

    The secret to getting started on something when you don't... Read More

    What Would You Do If You Knew You Could Not Fail?

    The next time you find yourself relaxing on the couch,... Read More

    Rebirth from the Ashes

    The legend of the phoenix can actually be found... Read More

    Playing With Mindfulness: Sneaking In The Back Door

    I often meet people who say things like, "I've been... Read More

    No Excuses

    Don't you just hate it when people make excuses for... Read More

    Mindfulness and Birthdays: Surprising Moments

    The first week of May is a big birthday time... Read More

    The Seven Keys to Motivation

    Motivation. It's a complicated subject that is studied by many... Read More

    A Reality Practice

    Suggested practice to gain freedom from self-limitation.It is suggested that... Read More

    Come Alive!

    As many of you know I have a passion for... Read More

    Ready, Set, Action!

    James 2: 17?faith by itself, if it is not accompanied... Read More

    Procrastination

    Allow me to start this with a quote:To think too... Read More

    Motivation: 3 Keys to Lasting Change

    David Bowie once sang, "Ch-ch-changes, tryin' to face the strain."There... Read More

    Have You Ever Not Done Something Because Someone Said You Couldnt?

    "Every truly great accomplishment is at first impossible." It's a... Read More

    Anchors Away!

    If we want to fill our heads with the doom... Read More

    A Reality Practice

    Suggested practice to gain freedom from self-limitation.It is suggested that... Read More

    Motivation By A Challenge

    Many humans are motivated by the thought of doing something... Read More

    How To Be Motivated To Create The Life Of Your Dreams

    When it comes to motivating yourself to be a better... Read More

    Stop Squeaking! Align Yourself for Business Success!

    Even for a remarkable business owner like you, from time... Read More

    How Do I Stop Procrastinating?

    Often times we procrastinate because it just seems like so... Read More

    After the Big Project: Recovering From Success

    My older daughter got married 10 days ago. The wedding... Read More

    Words that Inspire: PASSION

    What is your PASSION?Dictionary says: strong liking for or... Read More

    Finding Your Authentic Path

    "Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light." ~... Read More

    Book Summary: Self Motivation

    Gail Lindenfield is a well-known British author who has written... Read More

    Motivation: The Power of Asking

    Very shortly, in this paragraph, I'm going to share with... Read More

    Motivation: The Power of Action, Part 1

    I've heard it said that 85% of success is showing... Read More

    Breaking Through Resistance

    Why is it that every time you start something new,... Read More

    Choose Your Suffering - Be Willing to Pay the Price for Success!

    One day when my friend Todd and I were having... Read More

    Just Do It!

    If you run a business like I do, you probably... Read More

    Our Future

    I'm back from Hawaii; it was ten days of physical... Read More

    Intelligence & Energy

    Life and evolution is the dynamics of energy in which... Read More

    Stop Procrastination--Just Do It!

    In this article I'll talk about the reason that stops... Read More

    Taking Responsibility

    Taking action about our current station in life involves taking... Read More