It is good to work. But!

Work is a great thing! I thank God for the opportunity to work. For He himself worked (Gen. 1:1). And He said that if we don’t work we won’t eat 2 Thess. 3:10). But the thing with work is that it can turn one into a workaholic. Therefore, we need to recognize that though God has ordained work for us, we must emulate his example – “he rested on the 7th day” (Gen. 2:2).

Somebody once said, “work and no play makes jack a dull boy.” Actually it is a proverb –  and it means that without time off from work, a person becomes both bored and boring.

So I took a little vacation this week – a week of complete rest and I am so thankful to the Lord for the opportunity to do this. I feel refreshed and energize for the weeks ahead. During my time away, I read a few articles and magazines – here is an excerpt of somethings I learned about recognizing and handling burnout:

Preventing burnout”

Having determined the causes of burnout, we can now move on to look at ways of avoiding these causes. Here are seven preventive measures.

1. Attend good conferences and seminars. This will offer new dimensions and perspectives that can replenish your tank of ideas for sermons, activities, and programs.

2. Avoid being constantly on the giving end without doing something that will give you some sense of accomplishment or recognition.

3. Do something different regularly. Work in your garden, paint the house, or take a day off and go away with your family. By having interests other than your work, you can renew yourself. But don’t overdo yourself in your outside activity, or this will only contribute to your sense of exhaustion.

4. Be sure you recognize your own limits. Do not overextend yourself by assuming responsibility for everything that needs to be done. Delegate authority and give your members a chance to feel needed and important in the church.

5. Don’t be afraid to deal with negative feelings about your work. It is better to work through them than to internalize them. Dealing with them will increase your insight into your problems and your work, and will prevent the problems from showing up later as one or more psychophysiological disorders such as asthma, allergies, and peptic ulcers.

6. “Stop the world and get off.” Every so often take time to do an inventory of your responsibilities versus your resources. And while you are doing that, take time to meditate, talk with the Lord, and seek advice, but not as you do it routinely. Make it an intensive self-disclosure and confession–you’ll find it soothing and renewing.

7. If none of these remedies help–after you have given them a thorough try–you may already be experiencing full-fledged burnout. Seek help. Burnout syndrome is not a self-terminating illness.

Read the rest of the article here: www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1986/March/ministerial-burnout-cause-and-prevention