What Works: Sunburn, the symbolism of burn out

The sun is out more and the weather is warming up. With that, comes the need to protect against sunburn. Although the first sunburn of the season feels kind of nostalgic on my skin. I also realize that it’s a bad habit to develop.

There are consequences to sun complacency. If melanoma isn’t a big enough reason to apply sunscreen, those with tattoos should know that the sun is the #1 killer of beautiful skin artwork. Unprotected sun exposure also advances the aging of skin. Do you know what else has the risk of killing art work, illness, and aging? Burnout.

Burn out can feel an awful lot like getting a sunburn. You get so caught up in what you are doing you forget to protect yourself. Applying self-management skills is a lot like applying sunscreen to avoid a sun burn. Sometimes we even carry the tools with us, only to forget to apply them before the burn.

Here are a few tools you can use to avoid burn out.

Tool #1: Apply before being active.
Just like you should apply sunscreen before you go outside, you need to get mindful about what you are about to do before you do it. Every week, I write this column. Each time, before I write, I consider what I’m going to write about. Multi-tasking seems like it’s a good idea. But it’s not. Decide to focus and commit to 50 minutes of a task (no more, and no less than 30 minutes). It's is a good first step to avoiding burn out. When you are doing a hundred things at once, you use more energy to get less done. You get burned every time.

Tool #2: Know your pay off.
If I put on sunscreen, I won’t get burned. I will be able to enjoy more time in the sun. I won’t hurt the next day. My tattoo won’t fade so fast. My skin will feel and look good. Now think about burn out. If I don’t overload myself, I won’t burn out. I will be able to enjoy the fruits of my labor versus spend lots of time recovering from my labor. I won’t hurt (as much) mentally, physically, and emotionally. Pain is inevitable. How much pain you are or whether it turns from pain to suffering is a choice.

Tool #3: Reapply!
Unfortunately, if you have applied sunscreen once during the season, it’s not good all season. In fact, most sunscreen directions say to reapply regularly. You also need to reapply after putting yourself in a certain situation (like being in water). That’s why I encourage my clients to reapply their tools. Self-management, like sunscreen, doesn’t stick without reinforcement. Reinforcement = practice!

Tool #4: Get help.
There are some areas you can’t reach when self-applying sunscreen. The same thing stands for self-management tools. You need something (or someone) to assist you. That’s where someone like me comes in. Lately, I’ve been helping companies which experience morale drop or turnover after performance reviews. When an employee receives a sub-par performance review, they can become resentful. Turnover increases if the employee can’t figure out how to improve their performance. I help individuals through that development crisis. It helps them move forward faster and farther than they could alone. This decreases employee burn out. If you are burning out, get help. There may be some spots you are not able to reach by yourself. It’s OK to ask for help with sunscreen AND burn out.

KEEP LEARNING. KEEP GROWING!
Ongoing: Motivation Monday with Diane Dye Hansen at Adams Hub for Innovation from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Email grow@adamshub.com to schedule an appointment).

May 4, 2017: From Idea to Action, Diane speaks at the American Business Women’s Association, Reno-Tahoe Express Network, Atlantis Casino, Non-members: $25 includes lunch, INVITATION ONLY - Email diane@whatworkscoaching.com for an invitation and details.

May 10, 2017: Diane mentors at Entrepreneurs Assembly (Occurs the 2nd Wednesday of each month in The Studio at Adams Hub for Innovation).

June 20, 2017: From Idea to Action, Professional Saleswomen Network (PSN), Living the Good Life, 11:30 a.m.

Coming Summer 2017: 10 Steps to Business Success Workshop – 6-week online class – Sign up here for the What Works for Inspiration newsletter to receive details when available.

September 30, 2017: What Works for Productivity Workshop, Sophisticates Women’s Conference, at Kaia FIT in Carson City. Tickets can be found here.

Need personalized help? Schedule your individual or group session at www.whatworkscoaching.com.

What Works Coaching

Diane Dye Hansen is the Chief Inspiration Officer of What Works Coaching, an individual and organizational coaching and consulting firm based in Carson City. She has 20 years of experience working with top corporations, growing businesses, motivated entrepreneurs, and individuals hungry for a fresh start. Diane holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Marketing from Cal State San Bernardino. She is also a candidate for a Master’s degree in Communications Management from the University of Southern California. Her column appears every Monday, and sometimes Tuesday, in Carson Now.