Burnout Prevention Tip #3

Written By: Jason Rose, CD-SV, RIT

I use an assortment of strategies to prevent burnout. These strategies help keep my “can do” pace with my “doing”. A few focus on keeping the body healthy. Some are mental strategies to maintain balance. And one or more help keep the spirit nourished. These are necessary for a consistent “can do” attitude. Below is this month's tip for helping to prevent burnout.

The "3 P’s” of Prioritizing: Prioritize People First

Long ago I discovered my “3 P’s” of prioritizing. It means prioritizing people over all other things I could be doing. For me, I try to prioritize in the following order:

1. People:

Detailers, customers, colleagues, co-trainers, students in my academy, the people I am currently with and are passionately attentive to what we are doing. In the literal sense, I aim to “be” with them. I subordinate all other pressing tasks to being fully present with the people I am working with. Only rarely does this add additional stress. Most of the time it is freeing and satisfying. Many people, perhaps you, do not do this or have a difficult time doing this. Instead, while with other people, your mind may be full of other tasks. This can add stress. More importantly, it can prevent you from fully engaging with the people you are with, which contributes to a feeling of disconnectedness. I learned a long time ago that if I am with people, educating and doing what I love to do, to prioritize them above all other things. The feeling of connection is energizing and satisfying. Feeling burnt out in these moments is almost impossible. Intentionally and intently “being” with the people I am with is my #1 top strategy for preventing burnout.

2. Products:

For me, working with detailing tools and products has been my career since I was a young teenager. But it is more than just something to keep my hands busy. It is therapy. It is stress-releasing. Machine polishing paint is both relaxing and energizing. When I am overwhelmed and feel like my tasks are weighing heavy on my shoulders, a few minutes of machine polishing on car paint can give me an immediate 180-degree turnaround. It’s amazing how well it works. Working with tools and products has been a consistent and fundamental component of my life and career. No coincidence that my long-term love for working with products is in parallel with most of my days I am either training detailers on how to be more efficient and profitable with polishing systems (tools, compounds, pads) or I am actively developing and testing new products. It is important to me. I make it a daily priority. A day working with products is a good day. Too many days of not working with products lead to me feeling burnt out. A reminder that I must re-prioritize to people and products. Fortunately, and a profound blessing, I am paid to work with people and products. Even with long hours and consecutive days of hard work I rarely feel burnt out. Sometimes I am surprised myself how much “work” I can do. If I am working with people or products, it is not “work”.

3.Paper:

Younger peeps might be wondering what I am referring to. How can paper be a priority? Well, I am old enough that paper was relevant years ago. Now it is symbolic of doing computer work or completing digital documents. Parked at a desk, looking at a screen while working on reports, spreadsheets, or presentations is my least favorite activity. It is right up there with scooping runny dog poop or stopping the car to dig for the phone that fell between the seats while navigating or in conversation. I have a nice desk. A nice office. I'm not there much. I have turned down several high-paying promotions because the job meant looking at a screen too much or driving a desk every day. I am not wired that way. So why is paper on my top list of priorities? Well, the running of any business, leading a team, or doing any meaningful project means some amount of computer work and documents. Some see my loathing for paperwork and perceive me to be procrastinating on these tasks. I approach a deadline in seconds and minutes. Sometimes blow past it apologetically. But is it procrastination? Of course, it is, sometimes. And this adds stress. When is it not procrastination? When I have prioritized people and/or products first! When I do this, I am guilt-free and sleep well at night. The ongoing challenge is to see deeper into a paperwork task and connect with the people or products it represents. By doing this I tap into vast energies and motivation, and it often gets done quickly. Or conversely, I realize it is not aligned with a people or product priority and thus hangs out on the to-do list longer. 

The 3 “P’s” help me prevent burnout by keeping my daily activities aligned with my passions and minimizing those activities that are a drain on my energy.

Don’t miss out on the entire Burnout series by Jason! Find previous articles here:

• Article 1
• Burnout Tip 1
• Burnout Tip 2