What do you do if burnout is clouding your workplace decision-making?

1 Recognize the signs

The first step is to acknowledge that you are experiencing burnout and how it is affecting your decision-making process. Some common signs of burnout include feeling tired, irritable, cynical, detached, overwhelmed, and ineffective. You may also notice that you have difficulty concentrating, remembering, prioritizing, solving problems, and communicating. These symptoms can lead to poor judgment, errors, conflicts, and missed opportunities. If you notice any of these signs, don't ignore them or blame yourself. Instead, seek help and support from your manager, colleagues, friends, family, or a professional.

3 Reframe your perspective

The third step is to reframe your perspective and attitude towards your work and your decisions. Burnout can make you feel hopeless, helpless, and trapped. It can also make you focus on the negative aspects of your situation and overlook the positive ones. To overcome this, you need to challenge your negative thoughts and emotions and replace them with more realistic and constructive ones. For example, instead of thinking that you have no control over your work or your decisions, think of the things that you can influence or change. Instead of thinking that you are alone or unsupported, think of the people who can help you or appreciate you. Instead of thinking that your work or your decisions are meaningless or futile, think of the purpose or the impact that they have.

4 Review your options

The fourth step is to review your options and alternatives before making a decision. Burnout can make you rush into a decision without considering all the relevant factors and consequences. It can also make you stick to a decision even if it is not working or causing more problems. To avoid this, you need to slow down and think critically and creatively about your decision. Gather as much information and evidence as you can, weigh the pros and cons of each option, and anticipate the potential outcomes and risks. You can also seek feedback and advice from others who have more experience or expertise on the issue.

5 Test your assumptions

The fifth step is to test your assumptions and beliefs that underlie your decision. Burnout can make you rely on cognitive biases and heuristics that can distort your perception and reasoning. For example, you may overestimate your ability or confidence, underestimate the uncertainty or complexity, ignore the contradictory or conflicting data, or follow the crowd or the status quo. To avoid this, you need to question and validate your assumptions and beliefs. Look for evidence that supports or challenges them, explore different perspectives and scenarios, and be open to changing your mind or your decision if necessary.

6 Evaluate your results

The sixth step is to evaluate your results and outcomes after making a decision. Burnout can make you disregard or deny the feedback or the consequences of your decision. It can also make you repeat the same mistakes or avoid making new decisions. To avoid this, you need to monitor and measure your results and outcomes. Compare them with your goals and expectations, identify what worked and what didn't, and learn from your successes and failures. You can also celebrate your achievements and reward yourself for your efforts. This can boost your morale, confidence, and motivation.