Issue #3: Master the Power of ‘No’ & Break Free from Burnout
Master the Power of ‘No’ & Break Free from Burnout
📌 Tip of the Week
Say ‘No’ - I Dare You!
As leaders our time and energy are valuable and it’s needed to tackle the big things ahead of us. However, if you’re anything like me, you may find it difficult to say ‘no’ even to non-essential tasks. Here are some of my recommendations for ‘just saying no’ so that you can focus more on what truly matters:
Keep your goals and priorities in mind so that when a request comes in you can properly asses it. Does this align with my goals, do I have the bandwidth?
If the answer is no, you can decline respectfully without guilt. For example, “I appreciate the offer, but I need to focus on my current projects.”
Delegate, delegate, delegate when possible. If the task is important but not a priority for you, delegate it to a team member.
Take it from Claudia Black who says “Saying no can be the ultimate self-care.”
👉 Protecting your time allows you to direct your energy towards high-impact activities, preventing burnout and ensuring you lead effectively.
Real Talk - This Was The Moment I Realized I Was Burning Out
It's 3:27 am, I wake up in the middle of the night and begin working on organizing my backlog, responding to emails, and creating the next pitch deck.
It wasn't uncommon for me to abruptly wake up in the middle of the night and being unable to go back to sleep, I'd reach for my work laptop and begin working. I told myself that it was good 'quiet time' for me to work, that I 'accomplished so much', and 'it was necessary'.
This was the point in my career where I should have recognized I was burning out - I continued to add increasingly bad habits to my routine.
❗Not being able to shut down work at the end of the day
❗Forgetting to eat lunch or take bathroom breaks (yikes!)
❗Attending meetings back-to-back-to-back-to back and so on
❗Doing work at 3:00 am because 'it was the only time I had'
❗Continuing to work while I was out for doctor appointments or on PTO
and the list goes on...
It wasn't healthy and I knew that so I had to make a change. Here are just some of the ways I did that...
✅ Setting boundaries was a big one - no more 3:00 am work sessions for me or working while on PTO (at least no more than a quick check-in)
✅ Evaluating my calendar and making some tough decisions on what I would attend and what I could delegate to my team members
✅ Speaking of calendars, I made sure to block at least 30 minutes between noon and 2:00 pm to eat a good lunch, ideally away from the computer, and was sure to respect that time block
✅ Started a 'closing time' schedule in my work-from-home office - including closing the curtains on the sliding glass doors, shutting down my computer for the day, and sometimes singing 'Closing Time' by Semisonic.
If you’re reading this and thinking “wow this sounds like me” take this advice and start to make changes to your habits - you will thank me later.
Don’t Let Context Switching Slow You Down
It can take up to nine and a half minutes to get back into a workflow after switching between digital apps! 🤯
How context switching impacts teams:1
Nearly half of workers report that context switching drains their productivity.
The biggest impact occurs when you’re switching between tasks and topics multiple times over a single day.
Constant interruptions and frequent task-switching can significantly decrease efficiency and increase stress levels. To combat these effects, consider strategies like:
👉 Time blocking your calendar for similar tasks (writing emails, customer calls, brainstorming, internal strategy meetings)
👉 Using task management tools to keep you and your team organized
👉 Setting clear boundaries to minimize disruptions including building in mindful breaks throughout the day
By reducing the amount of times you switch actions, you can help your team stay focused and boost overall productivity.
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Wellness Corner
Nutrition Facts: Keeping Hydrated Increases Focus
When you are busy being a great leader we often forget to take care of our basic needs, like drinking water or taking time to eat well.
Dehydration can lead to fatigue and significantly reduce your ability to focus. Keep your hydration levels up with these water-rich foods:*
Cucumbers are 95% water, low in calories, and perfect for snacking.
Watermelon is packed with vitamins and if you hurry is still in season.
For a crunchy snack, try celery that’s great for hydration.
Community Insight
We want to see your remote work setup!
Share a photo of your workspace on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter, and tag us! Whether it’s a cozy corner or a dedicated office, we’ll feature the best setups in upcoming newsletters!
Until next time, stay well.
𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅.𝒃𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎
1https://assets.qatalog.com/language.work/qatalog-2021-workgeist-report.pdf
* Consult Your Doctor First: Before starting any new exercise routines, wellness plans, or making significant changes to your diet, it’s important to consult with your doctor or healthcare provider. They can help ensure that any new practices are safe and appropriate for your individual health needs. Your well-being is our top priority, so please take this step before making any changes.