Burning the Candle both ends?

Question

How do you keep mentally alert and physcially sound with long working hours over a number of years ?

Just curious but would be most appreciative if you are able to share your experience on avioding burn out.

Serious answers if you please.


Tried the following:

- Eight cups of strong Coffee or caffeine equivalent
- Eight cups of Water
- Five hours sleep daily except on Sundays
- Twelve hours sleep if work stretches over seventy two hours
- Vitamins: B 2 x 100mg; C 3 x 1000mg; Zinc 2 x 50mg
- Eye drops

The mind gets to a stage that seems to slow down accompanying tasks that take forever, with the side effects of not being able to sleep soundly as soon as the task is completed.

Suffice it to say, working hours may not be renegotiated with higher management. One would be kidding to say that it is not a dog eat dog environment.

Answer 1

When I was in my early thirties I went back to college. Couldn't find a full time job to fit my college schedule, so I ended up with 3 part time jobs. At times I worked 60 hours a week and was going to school full time. I also had 2 children, 6 rental houses, my own house, and a drunk husband that was more work than any of the above.

I did it by cutting back on as much sleep as possible. Learn to cut corners on household work--such as run the clothes in the dryer for 5 minutes than hang to dry--that cuts your ironing needs to next to nothing. I would only sit down to do homework if I had the washer and dryer going--always have more than one thing going at once. Forget doing any housework that isn't necessary--like making beds.

Above all if someone offers to help you on anything, swallow your pride an accept it.

As for the caffeine consumption--that is a vicious cycle that is why you can't sleep once you go to bed. The effects of the caffeine diminish after long term usage--you will have to take more and more and barely feel any effect--well until you try to go to sleep. Wean yourself off of it as soon as possible. If you HAVE to take a caffeine pill--take only half at a time.

Answer 2

Discipline is the only way to avoid burnout -

i would simply suggest

- increase your sleep as much as is possible.

- prepare a salad to eat at work daily without fail. bring pieces of fruit to eat at work daily without fail. Whatever you eat at work on top of this is fine but ALWAYS eat your salad and fruit.

scehdule breaks at work for nourishment no matter how busy you are. Try and keep the same times for these breaks. Your body will notice this. Do not work for long periods without breaks (and fruit intakes)

- avoid alcohol at all costs

- cut back on the coffee (or get rid of it entirely)

- listen to some relaxing music at the end of the day when you get home (e.g. enigma) which will also de-stress you mentally of your days worries.
- have a hot bath when you get in
- carry on taking your vitamins and cod liver oil, and ginseng
- ALWAYS do something with your time off, go out and have fun - avoid shopping malls etc

having worked ( and still do ) long hours im still ticking and do the above. you sound disciplined already, but dont underestimate the fruit and salad, hope it helps

Answer 3

I wish I knew! I don't think there's anything that you can do that will enable you to avoid burnout over a long period of time. The things that you can do will enable you to do the hours for a longer period of time but over years it will get you. The only thing I can say is if you get the chance to have some power naps lay down with your legs raised on something this really does help.

Answer 4

Red Bull

Answer 5

Try not to think to much about the workload ALL WAY'S HAVE A BIT OFF FUN AT WORK .Don't wish the time away

Answer 6

Modafinil.

Available at all good internet drugstores.