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The Difference between Procrastination and Burn Out and How to Deal with Each

- June 26, 2013 | by April -

Procrastination is your enemy.

It’s constantly tapping you on the shoulder, vying for your attention.

As a creative business owner, your success and happiness depends on your use of time.

Do you waste an hour after lunch looking at photos of your sorority sister’s baby? Do you spend your most creative, energized time of the day answering emails? Do you get sucked into home improvement shows when you should be working? Do you tell yourself that you’ll start writing that book you’ve been thinking about for years tomorrow, because you’re just too damn busy today?

We all fall into the procrastination trap every once in a while, but when we do, we’ve got to claw our way out as soon as possible. If we don’t, it can easily turn into a habit.

Sometimes, we procrastinate when we’re burnt out and in serious need of a break. That isn’t the time to push yourself to create.

When you’re burnt out, you need to focus on self-care. So, how do you know whether you’re just procrastinating or burnt out?

Watch today’s video for the answer—and to get tips on how to deal with both procrastination and burn out.

Have you ever felt burnt out? How did you deal with it? I’d love for you to share your tips in the comments below.

P.S. Don’t you love my neon lime nail polish?

P.P.S. Do you love the photos in this week’s background? They are postcards from The Paris Print Shop on Etsy.

19 Comments · Filed Under: Creative Business Development, Productivity

Comments

  1. Robin Coalson says

    June 26, 2013 at 10:29 am

    Awesome!

    Reply
    • April says

      June 26, 2013 at 2:55 pm

      🙂

      Reply
  2. Vicki Allwardt says

    June 26, 2013 at 11:07 am

    Another winner April, thanks!

    Reply
    • April says

      June 26, 2013 at 2:55 pm

      Thanks Vicki!

      Reply
  3. Mickey@EuroAmerican Home says

    June 26, 2013 at 2:02 pm

    I really liked the idea to end the day by writing down what you’ve achieved towards your goals. It certainly takes some discipline, but it sounds like it’s worth it.

    Oh, and the nautical quiz at the end was hilarious 🙂

    Reply
    • April says

      June 26, 2013 at 2:56 pm

      Once you make it a habit, it’ll be second nature. I suggest keeping the journal/notebook somewhere you will remember to do it…like your nightstand.

      Hahahahaha…thanks! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Ana says

    June 26, 2013 at 3:52 pm

    I’ll definitely start a goal list and the end-of-day sum up!

    So that you know, how I figure out which way is which, nautical wise, here’s how it goes (in Portuguese but maybe i’ll help you in english, as the basis is the same):
    Port= Good side=in Portuguese Bombordo (bom meaning good and bordo meaning side or port)
    Starboard=bad side=in Portuguese Estibordo (Est is short for Estrelas=Stars and bordo the same as above).
    I probably was a in the navy back in 1500 when the Portuguese were sailing everywhere in the world!

    Reply
    • April says

      June 26, 2013 at 6:11 pm

      Awesome! It helps to hold yourself accountable and think, “What am I going to list this evening that got me closer to my goals?”

      Thanks for the explanation Ana! As you can tell, I don’t know much about anything related to sailing. I’ve been boating maybe a handful of times in my life. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Marie says

    June 26, 2013 at 5:38 pm

    You are so right about not trying to power through burn out. I have trouble admitting when I hit that point and I try to force myself to be create and yes, my work STINKS when I try to do that. I think I feel the need for a bubble bath tonight!

    Reply
    • April says

      June 26, 2013 at 6:12 pm

      Yay for bubble baths! I love lighting a candle and relaxing with a book in the bath. In my next house, I definitely want a separate bath and shower…a big bathtub! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Sage Grayson says

    June 26, 2013 at 7:21 pm

    What, no Vampire Diaries marathon? How will I survive? 🙂 Great tips, as always. I’ve never heard someone explain the difference between procrastination and burnout, but they ARE different and I like your advice about journaling about why your goals are important.

    Oh, and I’m never going sailing with you–haha!

    Reply
    • April says

      July 1, 2013 at 5:08 pm

      Hahahahaha! 🙂 Vampire Diaries marathon on the weekend????

      You shouldn’t ever go sailing with me…especially if I’m in charge of ANYTHING!

      Reply
  7. Dana says

    June 27, 2013 at 3:04 pm

    April!!!! Thanks SOOO much for answering my question!! I was so shocked and excited when I watched the video and you said my name!! Great, great, great advice! I think I struggle because right now I’m working a day job and my business has really taken off so it’s overwhelming at times. And since I do the same thing at my day job as I do for my biz (it’s web design day and night for me!) I can get burnt out on it pretty fast. I love it though and wouldn’t want to do anything else so at least I have answered that question! 🙂

    I’m also the world’s worst procrastinator! Law & Order marathons are my downfall. 🙂 I love the idea of writing down my goals and the “why” to go with them. Journaling your accomplishments at night is a wonderful idea too because I know I accomplish more than I think I do all things considered.

    Thanks again for answering my question! It’s funny…I’ve been getting quite a few emails from some lists I’m on and they all have to do with procrastination. Maybe the Universe is trying to tell me something! Maybe it’s “Hey, get off your butt and go be successful!” 🙂

    Reply
    • April says

      July 1, 2013 at 5:09 pm

      You’re sooooooo welcome!

      That can definitely get complicated when you’re doing so freaking much of your passion. Everyone needs a break, so I think it’s important for you to take them when you need them to keep yourself from burning out! Lots of self care!

      Hahahahahaha…we all need a reminder to get off our butts everyone once in a while, right?

      Reply
  8. Coral says

    June 27, 2013 at 3:20 pm

    What ever tickles your toes….goes. I am so keeping that one in the memory banks. Love it.

    I think us girls are terrible at prioritizing ourselves. We always look after everyone else first, then we collapse in a heap with no time or energy left for ourselves. And I’m a shocker for giving myself a to-do list a mile long with a tiny window of time to do it all. Then beat myself up when I only got some of it done. No wonder we burn out? Flame out more like it. Or blow up… poor hubby has experienced that a few times before too. Because we are such a joy to be around when we are like that.

    Last Christmas, I had yet another to do list a mile long. And i didn’t get a single thing on it done. I didn’t even look at the damn thing. Instead I watched Grimm episodes back to back and I took nanna naps in the afternoon and did lots of art just for the fun of art. After a year of getting up at 4am to work on my business before racing off to a day job, I needed to ignore all of it for 2 weeks and just be me. It was exactly what I needed. And I know it was because I didn’t feel guilty once.

    I always joke if I get lost in the bush to tell the search and rescue team to go in the opposite direction to where they think I would go because I’ll have no idea where I’m going. And do not let me be the navigator on a road trip. Trust me. Just don’t.

    Reply
    • Dana says

      June 27, 2013 at 3:30 pm

      I like that Coral….”It was exactly what I needed. And I know it was because I didn’t feel guilty once.” I think that is so true. When I’m procrastinating and I know I have something to get done, but I am just not doing it, I feel guilty. But other times when I know I just need a break, I don’t feel guilty at all. Maybe that is another good way to tell the difference between the two.

      PS. I also have NO sense of direction whatsoever. 🙂

      Reply
    • April says

      July 1, 2013 at 5:13 pm

      That’s a fun one, isn’t it? Store it in your memory bank!

      We can be…for sure! I used to feel like I had to be superwoman and do everything. Getting sick really changed my perspective on that. Now, I take much better care of myself.

      We’re definitely a joy when we’re like that….hahahahaha….

      We all need breaks and when you’re working THAT hard, you must take time for yourself and to just veg out in front of the television or to read a trashy book or to take lots of naps. The awful part is so many of us do feel guilty when we take those needed breaks but I think we feel less guilty when it’s really super needed.

      Hahahahahaha…so true! I have a broken compass in my head…I can get lost walking down my street.

      Reply
  9. Coral says

    June 28, 2013 at 7:28 pm

    Hmmm – seems none of us could find our way home if we got lost….

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Weekly Wrap Up 38 | The Barn says:
    June 28, 2013 at 4:02 am

    […] Are you procrastinating or are you really burned out? […]

    Reply

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