Coach’s Corner: Burnout is The Trap of Connection

By Mark Johnson
CEO, JP & Associates Realtors

I recently did a poll of all our associates on the No. 1 topic that wanted me to write about. The answer? 

“How to avoid burnout.”

You see, I work with a tribe of highly driven, highly entrepreneurial leaders who think about others and winning in the market more than themselves. Can you relate? 

Burnout is a state of mental, spiritual, and physical exhaustion that can zap the joy out of your business, your relationships, and your life. 

Because humans are designed to adapt, burnout isn’t always easy to spot. Yet, we know personality characteristics like needing to be in control, perfectionism, and being a “type A” can also increase your risk of burnout. One of my favorite quotes is: 

Perfection is not a standard. Progress is!

Some of you may need to read that quote over and over a few times. There are a few hidden signs of burnout, they are: 

• Exhaustion. Feeling physically and emotionally depleted. 
• Isolation. People with burnout tend to feel overwhelmed. As a result, they may stop socializing and confiding in others. 
• Escape. Masking the situation with drugs, alcohol, food, or even excessive gaming or entertainment.  
• Irritability. Burnout can cause people to lose their cool with others quickly. Coping with everyday stressors like driving kids to school or taking care of routine household tasks also may start to feel insurmountable. 
• Frequent illnesses. Like other long-term stress, burnout can lower your immune system, making you more susceptible to illness. Burnout can also lead to mental health concerns like depression and anxiety.

Before I write a few ideas on what we can do, let’s list a few thoughts about habits. Think about this for a moment: 

• A ‘committed habit’ works regardless of willpower.
• ‘Casual’ habits, on the other hand, are started with good intentions yet end up in the ‘forget’ to maintain category.
• Casual habits waste your time.
• Committed habits lead to results. 

The point being if you want to take some steps to avoid burnout, are you committed or casual? 

Burnout is preventable.

Following these steps may help you handle stress and a heavy workload from getting the best of you:

• Exercise. Exercise is good for our physical health, but it can also give us an emotional boost. A simple 10-minute walk is proven to make a difference. 
• A balanced diet. As we all know, eating a healthy diet is proven to help in several factors, including stress. 
• Practice good sleep habits. Our bodies need time to rest and reset, which is why my good acquaintance Dr. Shane Creado, a sleep specialist, appears on my YouTube channel and blogs frequently.
• Pattern interrupts. When feeling overwhelmed or stressed, a quick walk, a coffee break, even taking time to watch a YouTube song you enjoy. Small gestures help avoid stress building up into something bigger. 
• Ask for help. During stressful times, it’s essential to reach out for help. 

So, there you have it, a quick summary of burnout. How does this sound as a next step:

“I will only focus on committed habits today and this week.” 

#WinTheDay 

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Mark Johnson is the Chief Executive Officer of JP & Associates, a rapidly growing full-service real estate brokerage. He is focused primarily on productivity and service. He has invested nearly 25 years in understanding the inner workings of high-performing real estate agents, teams, managers, and leaders in major markets across the world. In prior assignments, he served as a Business Coach, in progressive leadership capacities for the 5th largest US-based real estate brokerage firm, in sales and marketing leadership capacities for a major consumer goods company, and served a stint in the US Army, Medical Service Corps. He was recalled to active duty during Desert Storm. Mark is a father of 3, a lifelong learner, Spartan, and an adventure athlete. He earned his MBA from California State University and a Behavioral Change Certification from the National Association of Sports Medicine. Several years ago, he decided to make “One Helluva Move” and not play it safe. Since that decision, he has climbed the world’s tallest free-standing mountain — Kilimanjaro; completed the Spartan trifecta, the LA Marathon, and the world-famous Iowa border to border RABGRAI ride, among other crazy adventures.