Zone 2 – It's Possible

But when it comes down to implementing, I have to be honest, it's pretty tough.

There are three zones in life (respectively)

1. The Comfort Zone

2. The Growth Zone

3. The Burnout Zone

The Comfort Zone is poisonous and, in my opinion, should be avoided at all costs.

It's where we become lackadaisical, apathetic, and then content in our ignorance.

The Growth Zone is amazing! It's the place of constantly learning, applying, and sharing with those we care about.

Think of someone who you didn't see for a while and then when you chatted again you thought "wow, you've really grown" (and I'm not talking side effects of eating donuts ;)

But there's another zone that we (or I'll speak for myself - that I) often forget about when chasing growth. The Burnout Zone.

I get so busy chasing growth, opportunity, and different challenges that I forget to refuel (and sometimes, reset).

It's a tough balance, because we want to push ourselves beyond our Comfort Zone and not take the easy route (where's the adventure in that anyways??), but any attempt to keep from the cliffs of burnout seem to encourage laziness, no?

Here are 3 of my favorite ways I've been taught to avoid burnout while experiencing the thrills of the Growth Zone (and no, I don't do these perfectly, I'm still learning, but they have helped)

Set Clear, Actionable, Achievable Goals. Otherwise known as SMART Goals, keeping the task at hand CLEAR and achievable is insanely important. Building a large, successful company or landing a dream job, great (grossly simple) vision, but creating one Happy Customer™ this month or applying for 2 positions this week are clear goals that keep you growing, but not as overwhelmed.

Encourage Rest and Recovery. This is the hardest one for me - my mind is always on and sometimes I feel like I can't turn it off. Finding time to unplug and rest, maybe reading a book, taking a walk, or just watching an episode of Band of Brothers is necessary to avoid burnout. More importantly, creating space for this so that you can unplug is critical.

Celebrate Small Victories. I know, we're all going for the big goal (successful company, dream job, dream car, etc), but make sure to celebrate every small victory. It's actually part of staying humble and kind. You're never too big or far along to not count the small victories. Make a big deal of them and eat some cake - you just WON a victory. Be grateful for the small things - they compound and make big impacts.

Alright, I have to skedaddle and finish work. This is all just a bunch of stuff I needed to hear tonight in this crazy week, so hopefully it encourages you as well, friend.

What lessons have you learned that help you avoid burnout while pursuing your goals? I'd love to hear!!

Have a TREMENDOUS rest of your week!