What's The Point?

Have you ever had one of those days, weeks or months where you struggle to survive your daily routine? When the thought of doing one tiny little thing more fills you with dread, to the point where you just want to shut out the world? Where playing Solitaire on the computer is infinitely more preferable that the whole slew of tasks that are piling up, demanding attention?

Have you ever just asked yourself, "What is the point of trying any more?"

The real question is, What do you do or think next?

Do you decide to stop striving for a better future, one that allows you to be everything you are capable of, just because you're not achieving your goals quickly and easily?

Or do you recognise that you could do more, or do what you are doing differently, in order to move forward?

Climbing a mountain is a slow and laborious process, but the effort is worth it for the views at the top. Find another path towards the top of your mountain and look forward to what's waiting for you at the end of that journey.

8 Steps For Dealing With Burnout Blues

We've all been there - days when we feel that there aren't enough hours in the day; that we can't face another 'No', despite subscribing to the "Some Will, Some Won't, So What?" philosophy; that we can't cope with the emotional rollercoaster of keeping our loved ones "on-side" with our business plans.

Sometimes those days turn into weeks. Once they turn into months, it's really difficult to get back on track.

So how do you deal with the Burnout Blues?

I find the following works well for me:

1. Remind yourself that you're not the first, or only, one to feel like this. I'm not the only single parent with unco-operative offspring, a partner who expects me to focus on them rather than the business, a 2 hour commute on work days, a job where I get 30 minutes at most to talk to potential team members during the day, a choice between retail business building or housework.
2. Stop the guilt trips. The house/garden aren't perfect? You feel judged by others? Don't add to your misery by picking on yourself. Accept you can do what you can do and move on.
3. Prioritise and plan. Add in blocks of time for everything that you are involved in. That includes housework, gardening, fixing the car, going to the pub, spending time with loved ones.
4. Publish the plan.  Make sure your family know what you are doing and when. That way, they know just how busy you are and can make their own adjustments. They may even offer to help out in some ways.
5. Give yourself a day off every week. As far as possible, make that a day off from the rest of the daily grind as well. No work, minimal household chores, get someone else to cook. When you're doing two jobs, you need to recharge your batteries or you'll burnout repeatedly.
6. Set rewards, put aside some of your retail profits to pay for them. Caught up on your paperwork/housework? Sponsored or retailed to a weekly target? Make sure you incentivise yourself - treat yourself to a massage, buy that book/pair of shoes/DVD. Note, this is additional to any material goals such as "buy a new car/washing machine/tv".
7. Re-motivate yourself. Listen to that Jim Rohn audio, read the self-development book you've been avoiding.
8. Remind yourself that you're still learning. Nobody goes from Apprentice to Master in less than 7 to 10 years. Remember, it takes 10,000 hours of practice to master any skill.

What rewards would you set aside for yourself?