The American Psychological Association defines burnout as mental and physical exhaustion characterized by negative attitudes toward your job and role. It signifies trouble and can be fatal to your career if it’s left to fester.

Why? Burnout hinders productivity. Think about the last time you felt depressed, with every thought filled with how bad things are – you probably didn’t get much done besides worrying. Fortunately, you can regain a sense of control and purpose. Here’s how to boost productivity when you feel burnt out.

1. Harmonize Your Workspace

Clutter harms productivity by increasing your stress load. Looking around a messy environment is like gazing at a never-ending to-do list. It crowds your brain with visual stimuli, making you feel overwhelmed before you even sit down at your desk.

Clean up your office space with desktop containers and file cabinets for crucial documents. Make sure you have ample lighting, as it can increase your serotonin production and boost your energy. Get rid of anything that is simply taking up space. By clearing your space, you can clear your mind and work more peacefully. 

2. Take a Break

So-called “quiet quitting” gets a lot of bad press today. However, ask yourself this: If you hired a mechanic to swap out your radiator, would you expect them to replace your brake pads for free as part of the service? Of course not.

While quiet quitting often refers to employees, it can also come into play for business owners. As an entrepreneur, you are your own boss – and you may even work yourself harder than anyone else ever has. That means you are responsible for giving yourself permission to slow down when necessary. 

Going above and beyond will net you a positive reputation at work and may fast-track you for a promotion. However, it’s also perfectly acceptable to do your job, no more, no less. Instead of thinking of it as “quiet quitting,” consider saying no to answering emails on weekends or staying late each night as an exercise in setting healthy boundaries.

Furthermore, take a real vacation if you can afford it. Research shows the benefits of taking time off include increased productivity when you return.

Finally, consider investing in a tomato timer. What’s that? It enables you to use the Pomodoro method, hailed by productivity experts as the ideal way to rock your day. It entails working for 25 minutes, then taking a 5-minute break. After three or four Pomodoro periods, you take a longer break of a half-hour or more.

3. Maintain Your Human Infrastructure

You can’t work at your productive best if you have ailing health. Self-care doesn’t necessarily mean lying around a pricey day spa. The World Health Organization defines it as any activity that maintains or promotes optimal health and helps you cope with diseases and includes the following:

• Exercise: You should get at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily or 150 to 300 minutes weekly. Resistance train at least twice to keep up your strength and walk, jog, or do other cardio activities for much of the rest.

• Eat right: Avoid ultra-processed foods laden with white flour, sugar, and additives. Stick to whole foods close to their natural form and emphasize a plant-based diet.

• Sleep: Most adults need seven to nine hours each night. Keep electronics out of your bedroom and keep a consistent routine to reinforce your circadian rhythms.

• Stay mentally healthy: Engage in hobbies that make you feel alive and prioritize time with friends and family.

4. Make Work More Fun

Finally, you get more done when you don’t feel like you’re working. Find ways to make work fun.

If you lead your team, include social events during work hours that allow your staff to relax and blow off steam. You’ll appreciate the chance to get to know them as people, not mere cogs in your machine. Make small, subtle changes like having walking meetings outdoors instead of crowding everyone into an uncomfortable conference room.

How to Boost Productivity When You Feel Burnt Out

Burnout is all too common in the months following the pandemic. It’s natural to feel tired, but you must keep your sense of exhaustion from affecting your career. Embrace the above tips to boost productivity when you feel burnt out. You’ll increase your enjoyment of what you do and help your team create a healthier work-life balance in the bargain.