We’ve all seen the ads for agency PMs on Seek:
“Must be willing to go above and beyond for every client”
“May be required to work late when necessary”
“Must deliver on budget and smash project expectations”
As PMs, we are constantly under pressure to be the best we can be. Not only to please our employers but also because clients are counting on us to deliver their projects and a positive experience to boot. The pressure of the perfect delivery can be a lot, especially after years in Agencyland. And let’s be honest, we all know why a lot of PMs try to go clientside. The nature of the agency environment means you’re working across multiple projects, you have competing deadlines and often multiple fires to put out. It takes a certain practical and mental skillset to deal with this constant juggling, and for most of us, burnout (to some extent) is inevitable. That's why I've mapped out the early signs of burnout so you know when to make a change, as well as take action to prevent it.
Ahhh PM burnout, welcome back old friend
I’m sure you’re thinking, don’t you mean foe? But I say friend because, at the end of the day, burnout happens when your body and mind are trying to tell you “we need a break!”. Like an old friend giving some hard to swallow advice, it isn’t pleasant but once you address it you’re going to feel so much better. So how do we recognise this old friend?
The signs of PM burnout
A small issue with a project makes you feel exhausted or anxious
Trouble sleeping because you’re thinking about work or sleeping longer than usual
Anger, anxiety or tears are easily triggered
Feeling paralysed by the amount of work in front of you
Lack of energy to invest in other areas of your life which usually make you happy
Getting snippy with coworkers when you’re usually very understanding
What can you do about it?
Put your work in perspective
As PMs we put a lot of pressure on ourselves (not to mention the external pressure we face) so it’s important to keep things in perspective. There are a few mantras you can say to yourself to bring you back to reality:
Nobody is perfect — mistakes are part of learning
It’s okay to ask for help (say it once more for the people in the back!)
I can only do the best I can
It’s not life or death
This project won’t last forever
I have achieved and learnt so much — I’m confident I can deal with these hurdles
Remember, there is more to life than work
Keep doing the things you love
If you’re stressed, it is common to want to close off from the rest of the world and stay at home to decompress. Stress can also lead PMs to take work home, which will only snowball negative feelings in the long run. Instead of following these negative reflexes, it’s important to prioritise activities which spark joy within us (thanks Marie Kondo) or that we find meditative. For me, this is visiting an art gallery, museum or spending time in nature. For you it could be a boxing class or playing boardgames with friends. Performing activities like this which clear your mind will also help renew your energy and mental health.
Take a mental health day
Rather than push negative feelings down, remind yourself it is okay to feel overwhelmed. You are human and it’s natural to need a break. Sometimes the mind really does need a day or two to recalibrate and it’s okay to take time off for this reason. Some employers still stigmatise mental health days but the fact is, 1 in 5 Australians have been reported to have a mental health or behavioural condition (according to The National Health Survey, 2018) and having a sick day if you’re feeling mentally overwhelmed is no less important than having a sick day due to a cold. It is also okay to take sick leave for stress-related issues according to Fairwork Australia. If you still don’t think your employer will be understanding, consider stating another reason for the sick day, but DO take it. You can’t put your job above your health.
Be open with your employer about how you’ve been feeling
If you think your employer will be understanding, try telling them how you’ve been feeling. Many employers or managers will understand and value your honesty. In my experience, they’ll often rally the team to jump in and help out to decrease your stress!
Use your annual leave!
For me, this is a prevention technique for PM burnout. As PMs, we are so used to putting clients first it can be easy to get stuck in thinking: ‘well I have launches scattered from March to September so I can’t have a holiday until then’. But the fact is, you are entitled to annual leave and, in my experience, it is 100% necessary to use it to maintain mental health. Even a long weekend away can renew your energy and having a longer trip to look forward to can give you something positive on the horizon.
Keep work separate
Maintaining a healthy distance from work while you’re at home is incredibly important. This can be difficult if you work from home, so try to separate your office space from the rest of the house and make it a peaceful area to sit in. If it’s possible, it’s also beneficial to have a work phone so you can switch it off once you’ve clocked off.
Consider whether the problem goes deeper
If you’ve been feeling burnout for a long time (such as a month), or if it’s a recurring issue, it could be time to assess your situation. Some questions to ask yourself:
Do I think this is a personal issue or does my place of employment have unhealthy expectations or a negative environment? Feeling burnt out could actually mean it’s time to look for new opportunities.
How often do I feel like this? Should I talk to someone about it? Therapy is not just for people with serious mental illness, it can be incredibly beneficial for anyone dealing with stress and objective advice can be more helpful than speaking to a friend.
Overall, it’s important to acknowledge and address feeling burnt out (and know that it’s okay!). Pushing down feelings only prolongs the torment and by soldiering on, you could put yourself at risk of breaking down. You’ve come a long way as a PM and taking time for yourself is so important! So book in that annual leave, go to that drawing class and take that mental health day. You deserve it!
