Overworking leads to stress and physical exhaustion. When you are running yourself ragged on a job, it is not an example of hard work; you are paying the price for mistakes. It could be you have not prioritised your time correctly. Perhaps you underestimated how long the project could take? Whatever the reason, you need to ensure the cycle does not repeat.

A burned-out individual is less creative, less responsive and less enthusiastic. One of the major issues with overworking is that an individual is unable to focus due to fatigue. In turn, they begin to procrastinate and fall farther behind. Soon, they need to push themselves even harder to get the project over the line. How likely is it that they will do a good job?
 

It’s Vital Not to Lead People to Exhaustion

If you are a leader, then it is vital that you understand how pushing yourself too far can have a negative impact because you have a greater responsibility to your people. Burning out your employees is a sure-fire way to lose loyalty, and to impact the productivity of your department or even the company. While some people will relish the occasional hard push to finish a project, you need to avoid developing a culture of high pressure. People will start to leave.

There are several steps you can take to reduce overworking. As we have previously examined, efficient time management and the use of techniques such as Pomodoro allows you to prioritise both tasks and breaks better. Even a few minutes of quiet on a hectic day can re-energise a person.
 

Manage Your Routines

Routines, in general, can help you with organising your day. Starting in the home, you should ensure you are allowing yourself adequate time to relax and sleep. Keep in mind that being overtired has the same effect on your brain as alcohol, and few people would recommend alcohol as a productivity booster! With that in mind, remember that while a drink can be relaxing, alcohol also has a negative impact on the quality of your sleep. If you are heading into a busy week, it is best to stick to soft drinks and set aside the scotch for when you are finished.

Try and avoid taking work home with you and try to make sure your people do not feel obliged to do so. Ensure that when you are out of the office, you have leisure activities to keep your mind off work. A gym membership, a creative outlet or even shooting aliens in a video game can all give your brain a chance to unwind and reboot. We have previously written an article on keeping your work and home life separate that you may find useful.

Above all, learn. Whenever you hit a period of intense work, ask yourself, how did this happen, and could it be avoided? Have you not been keeping your calendar up-to-date? Did you forget to allot rest-days? Have you been sinking time into tasks that could wait? There could be any number of reasons, so it is important you take the time to evaluate what went wrong and how you could fix it for the future.

The post Burning Out Won’t Increase Productivity appeared first on Robin Lines Associates.

These days it can feel as if you’re always in the office. With cell phones pinging notifications about texts and emails no matter where you are, you’re always within reach. The urge to respond to that email from a client or that inquiry about a project can be too great. However, you should never neglect your important private time.
 

Work Smarter

One of the simplest ways to maximise your family life is to maximise your working hours. Make sure you take time to plan each day and make good use of calendar apps to remind yourself of important dates.

It’s also a good idea to learn what shortcuts you can take to make work-life flow easier. For example, spending some time to create templates for Word documents or PowerPoints might seem like a huge time sink now, but it’ll save your hundreds of hours in the future.
 

Don’t Bring Work Home

Sometimes a project unavoidably requires more time. You should, however, avoid bringing work home as much as you can. Turning your home into another office space prevents you from ever truly settling. Bringing projects home can also be habit-forming. You want to avoid getting into the routine of clocking off from one office only to enter another.

If you find you’re constantly bringing work home, then you might benefit from using the Time Management Matrix to better prioritise your tasks.

Leave Work Worries at Work

You should aim to make your home a work-free zone and that includes worries and stress caused by work. It’s common for people to ask their partner’s “How was your day?” but try and limit such conversations to a simple “Not bad” or “Fine”.

The reason for this is if you get home and begin letting off steam about the client that irritated you today, or the computer programme that crashed three times, that anger and irritation will play on your mind and cause disruptions to enjoyable socialising or family time.
 

Set Clear Boundaries

Freelancers and small business owners especially often have difficulties with setting boundaries. You want to be reachable by your clients so as not to lose business. However, being ‘too available’ can result in you writing emails when you wanted to spend time with the kids.

You might want to consider setting an Out of Office note on your email letting a client know when they’re likely to receive a reply. Redirect work calls to voicemail with a message indicating your working hours. Try and keep to this as much as possible. It’s not rude, it’s expected.
 

Make the Most of Your Home Life

When you’re at home, make sure you’ve always got something to keep your mind away from work. Whether it’s a hobby, blasting aliens in a video game, binge-watching the new season of Orange is the New Black on Netflix or spending thirty minutes on a treadmill.

The more active you can keep your mind at home, the less inclined you’ll be to check your voicemail or email, and the easier it will be to set boundaries and separate your two lives.

Make non-work plans and stick to them. Even an “I’m going to play my next six games on Football Manager” is a better plan than “I’ve not got a lot to do, let’s check my phone.”

The post Separating Work and Family Life appeared first on Robin Lines Associates.

Estimates suggest that one in four adults are affected by mental health disorders at some point in their life. For some, these will be brief episodes perhaps brought on by stressful circumstances. Others, however, can slip into a cycle of problems that may include frequent bouts of depression or anxiety. Without help, this can cause significant long-term problems.
 

People May Not Speak Up

People are often afraid to approach their managers or HR to discuss mental health concerns. They believe that doing so will cause more issues for them. Perhaps they fear that they will be overlooked for promotion or mocked in private by others? Some people are just afraid of appearing vulnerable or have grown up in an environment where the severity of mental health problems was unrecognised or dismissed.

Whatever the reason, spotting the signs of poor mental health is something all leaders should endeavour to do. Of course, we are not medical professionals, but as with my guide to stress, there are telltale signs that something may be amiss.
 

Frequent Short-Term Absences

One possible indicator is when a person takes frequent sick days, often only for a day or two at a time. Individuals who suffer from depression often find it difficult to face the day in front of them. Working and socialising can become trying tasks and even calling in sick can be draining. Very few people will cite depression or another mental health problem as the reason for their absence. They will instead complain about a short-term stomach bug or cold.

If you notice one of your people is starting to take many sick days, this may be a sign that they have an underlying mental health condition.
 

Snapping at Colleagues or Withdrawing

If one of your people has suddenly become aggressive in the workplace, this may be a sign of a mental health problem. People suffering from stress are often easy to agitate or anger, and this may manifest in sharp outbursts at others. Most people have a bad day and exchange words which they later regret but regular ‘bad days’ are a possible indicator that something is wrong.

Similarly, someone who withdraws from others may be having trouble. If one of your people has stopped talking with colleagues and appears disinterested or bored, this too can be an indicator that there may be an issue. A change in person’s sense of humour or noticeable change in their manner of speech are also things to watch.
 

Always Tired

I discussed the importance of sleep in my previous article. Both insomnia and hypersomnia are associated with many mental health conditions as both a possible cause and a symptom. Frequent signs of fatigue may be indicative of other underlying problems. An additional consideration is when people are regularly tired and have made less effort with their appearance. When coupled with fatigue, a change in patterns of dress or personal grooming can be symptomatic of mental health problems.

Consistently being late for work or staying later to catch-up is often an issue for people who are having difficulties getting quality sleep.
 

Lower Standards of Work

Sadly, it is often the one we notice first, but it is still a good thing to catch. If one of your people has become less productive or is working below their usual standard, this could be because they have a mental health problem. Coupled with fatigue, a tendency to daydream or appear bored can result in lower quality work.
 

The Next Step

You cannot assume that because one person fits any, or all, of the above that they have a mental health problem. However, it should be enough to raise some concerns. You should not ask outright whether they have a problem as it may appear confrontational and cause them to shut down. You should, however, talk to them.

The best approach is to speak with them privately and enquire in a relaxed, friendly tone how they are finding work right now. If a person’s performance has slipped or you have noticed they have been increasingly irritable, you may want to ask whether everything is okay outside of work. Do respect their privacy and their right to a personal life, however.

This conversation may not yield instant results, but it will sew the seeds that you are approachable, and you care. Make sure that all of your people know that they can talk to you if they have any issues or concerns and that you value their contributions. If a person’s quality of work has suffered, ensure that you praise all work to a good standard appropriately.
 

Taking Time Off

If someone needs to take time off work, then try to remain in contact with them. Speak to them on the phone once or twice a week and remind them that they are missed. Similarly, talk to them with the expectation that they will return. It cannot be understated just how much good you can do for someone who is suffering if you make them feel valued. Depression, in particular, can cause profound feelings of worthlessness in an individual. You want to make sure that you help your people fight that belief.

Do remember, even if you have no reason to suspect any of your people are struggling to cope with mental health problems, there is no harm in being forthcoming with praise and reward for good work.
 

Further Reading

Mental health charity Mind has produced this detailed document about managing mental health problems in the workplace.

The post Spotting Mental Health Problems in the Workplace appeared first on Robin Lines Associates.

It may seem strange that of all the quotes in Sergio Leone’s epic spaghetti western The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, it was Tuco’s words to a chicken that stuck with me. We have bizarrely cultivated a working culture where stress is almost considered a badge of honour. Popular culture depictions of chaotic office environments regularly portray executives working long into the night. Caffeine is the cornerstone of their diet and sleep is for the weak.

Art imitates life, and in the real-world, many entrepreneurs and ambitious workers accept stress as a given. The draining effects of ill-mental health have become something that we pay little heed. It should not be like this. What is the point of being successful in business if we allow our mental health to suffer to the extent that we cannot enjoy the rewards of our efforts?
 

Stress is a killer

Studies have shown stress contributes to physical problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease. It also damages our social relationships. People suffering from stress are easier to anger and often become isolated from loved ones. Severe stress sometimes manifests in abuse of alcohol and drugs. When prolonged stress is left ignored it can lead to depression, anxiety and other serious mental health conditions.

Stress also informs poor decision making. Duress impairs our cognitive abilities. We become more likely to make rash or reckless choices. In the workplace, this can range from yelling at a colleague over a trivial matter to making poor judgment calls on purchases. A vicious circle can form as our poor decisions inform further difficulties and feed our stress levels.

Therefore, while some stress in business is unavoidable, we should not consider it a necessary part of our working life. We should treat it like the problem that it is, and remedies should be sought to counter its influence. If we find ourselves in a cycle of stress, we must endeavour to break the wheel.
 

Signs of Stress

Like a tree, stress does not just appear. It grows over time and becomes stronger. Being aware that you might be suffering from stress is the first step into toppling the condition.

You might be suffering from stress if:

• You take much less enjoyment from work that you previously enjoyed.
• Your productivity diminishes as a result of procrastination or increased boredom.
• You find that you cannot put work out of your mind.
• Concerns about work prevent you from sleeping.
• You find yourself constantly fatigued.
• You find you can no longer concentrate on even simple tasks.
• You find yourself becoming irritated easily with colleagues or clients.

All of the above are experiences most people have from time to time, regardless of stress levels. However, if they occur regularly and several of the above are true, then you may be suffering from stress.
 

Importance of Sleep

Sleep is vital for good physical and mental health. Our bodies and minds need the opportunity to recharge each day. Adults should aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night. If you are regularly getting less than this, then you significantly increase the chance of developing stress.

If you are not getting enough sleep, the first thing you need to consider is why? In today’s business environment, it is not uncommon for people to take their work home with them. Many will continue to work up to the point they retire to bed. Your mind cannot pull a hard stop. It needs to slow its motor down and disengage. Many people who find themselves thinking about work when trying to sleep are doing so because their mind is still focused on work. If this is you, try to find a window of at least an hour between working and sleeping so that your brain can relax.

Better still, ask yourself why are you taking work home with you? Is it always necessary to do so? Could you improve your efficiency or organisation during the day to leave your evenings free for yourself and your family? Are you putting too much pressure on yourself when you could better delegate tasks to others?
 

Relaxation

Remind yourself why you work; presumably, it is to provide a better quality of life for yourself and your family. One of the reasons people overwork themselves is because they forget to take enjoyment in other things. Hobbies and interests provide an escape from work and a chance for your mind to switch its focus. Your brain enjoys being given new tasks so you should do your best to indulge it.

Watching a movie, playing a video game, reading a book or listening to music are all fantastic ways to exercise your brain’s muscles. Fuelling your imagination helps to create a barrier between your home and professional lives. Perhaps you could even write a book or compose your own music? Many hugely successful authors have cited their fictional works as a means to cope with mental health difficulties they were facing. Stress is often born from situations we perceive to be beyond our control. Writing fiction or composing music is a way for you to take control.
 

Consider Studying

Education can be another escape from work. Too often we see non-career focused education as a waste of time but why should it be? If you have always wanted to learn a foreign language, then why not go for it? If you work in manufacturing, what’s the harm in studying creative arts? Perhaps you would love to write music but do not currently read music or play an instrument? Now could be the ideal time to learn electric guitar or piano. I play bass, myself.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having non-work focused goals. Many of the most successful people spend their entire lives learning new things. Pursuing education can also help feed that part of us that thrives on achievement. Many of those happiest in the workplace are those with leaders who are forthcoming with praise. If you are the leader, however, who praises you? Studying can help fill the void.
 

Silence the Notifications

Technology has its benefits, but it can also be a curse. Those cheerful beeps notifying us of a text message or email have a profound effect on us. They exert their own form of control over us, demanding our attention. How many times have you allowed yourself to be interrupted by a notification that was not important but you then actioned regardless?

Switching your phone off may not be practical, but most modern smartphones allow you to restrict what notifications come in and when. Set your working hours on your phone and silence all notifications except for those from friends and family. Make a personal statement that home time is your time. Control the job instead of letting it control you. Your phone and tablet can become a leash to the office. You should look to sever that leash.
 

Do Not Be Afraid to Ask for Help

It is a shame to say, but mental health problems continue to carry a stigma in society. Unfortunately, this stigma exacerbates the problem. Too few people are willing to get help, men especially. They see asking for aid as a sign of weakness or an uncomfortable vulnerability. If the stress of work and life is too much for you to handle and you cannot deal with it yourself, then make an appointment with your GP or self-refer to mental health services in your area. Sometimes simply having an outlet to get the irritations out can be like releasing a pressure valve. Other times, you may benefit from something like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which helps you better understand your triggers and how to cope with them.

Your work should not rule your life, and neither should stress. Let us hark back to Tuco’s words and remember that if you work for a living, why do you kill yourself working?

The post Combatting Stress in Business appeared first on Robin Lines Associates.