Operating heavy equipment can take a toll on a person, both physically and mentally. When you consider that driving is one of the most stressful things that a person does on a regular basis. Doing it in heavy machinery can make it that much more difficult. With the stress on your body and your mind, it can be easy to fall victim to burnout. Check out our tips and tricks on how to avoid burnout and keep yourself on the job.
The first thing we suggest is monitoring your diet and exercise. Eating well, and staying active are both difficult to do while on the job, but have amazing upside when you do it. Packing healthy when you leave for the day, or putting some physical activity into your day can help ward off burnout.
Finding a way to work your hobbies into your workday can have an amazing impact on your mental health. Whether it’s discovering new music or podcasts, or even birdwatching from a job site, you can find ways to help connect with your surroundings through what you already love.
A regular schedule, or as close to one as you can get, can have a tremendous impact on your wellbeing, both physically and mentally. Even though a day in the life of an operator can be stressful and unpredictable, maintaining a regular schedule is a huge advantage in the battle to avoid burnout!
Being comfortable in the cab, both physically and mentally, is of utmost importance as well. By using ergonomic devices, ensuring your seat and steering are in the right positions, and then by keeping pictures of friends and family in your cab, you’re setting yourself up for success against burnout.
One of the best and easiest ways to avoid burnout from your operating job is to get away from your operating job. As part of your employee benefits, you are entitled to vacation time, and you should take it. Being out of the cab and doing something else will allow you to recharge and be ready once it’s time to hit the road again.
Burnout is dangerous and can seemingly come out of nowhere. Make sure you are taking care of yourself so you can stay healthy, happy, and on the job site.
