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The Reality of Long Hours: Preventing Burnout

Author: Ben O'Connell
/
3 MIN READ

Tradies face demanding schedules, early mornings, and physically exhausting work. Long hours may feel necessary, especially for business owners managing their tools by day and paperwork by night. But this work culture comes with risks to your lifestyle, your health and those around you. The tradie lifestyle is notorious, but how do we prevent burnout? […]

Tradies face demanding schedules, early mornings, and physically exhausting work. Long hours may feel necessary, especially for business owners managing their tools by day and paperwork by night. But this work culture comes with risks to your lifestyle, your health and those around you. The tradie lifestyle is notorious, but how do we prevent burnout?

The last Census showed that Kiwis work 37.2 hours a week on average. Almost 20,000 New Zealanders said they worked 70 hours a week, and 9,201 said they worked 80 hours. The Census defines workers as those with paid employment or any work done for profit or hire, a total of 2.6 million New Zealanders.

However, 297 New Zealanders said they worked 168 hours a week, so every hour of the day. These workers are likely self-employed in on-call situations, always ready to dive into work at a moment’s notice.

New research from Stanford University found that someone who works 70 hours a week has the same output as someone who works 55 hours. That’s 15 hours down the drain. The additional hours become unproductive and contribute to burnout, which shows up in physical, emotional, and professional contexts.

The Trade-Offs of Long Hours in the Trade Industry

Tradies might find themselves on the tools by day and catching up on paperwork by night. When work is slow, it can be hard to stay afloat, just as keeping your head above water is challenging when there’s work aplenty. With the rising cost of living, it’s even harder. Working massive hours can be inevitable as a tradie, and it works out for a while…until it doesn’t.

Burning the candle at both ends over time can damage your health, relationships, and lifestyle, leading to burnout. Burnout isn’t just tiredness—it’s a state of exhaustion that impacts every facet of life. People experiencing burnout might feel ashamed of their complaints or guilty about being unable to work. But burnout is more common than we realise, and is nothing to be ashamed of.

Recognizing the Signs of Burnout

If you feel helpless, unsatisfied, detached, or unmotivated, you might be heading to burnout. If you’re experiencing headaches, intestinal issues, fatigue, are often ill, or have changes in your sleep or appetite, you might also be headed to burnout.

Some burnout signs show up at work. Procrastination, bad memory, outbursts, isolation or withdrawal, and reduced performance in everyday tasks are some hints of serious stress and exhaustion.

With deadlines and client pressure, changing direction and taking the time to pause can be tough. However, if you don’t take the time to rebalance and regain your sense of self, you risk crashing so hard that your body physically chooses for you.

Six Proven Tips to Prevent Burnout

Set and stick to hours

Establish clear boundaries around your workday. Avoid extending your hours into personal time unless absolutely necessary. Sticking to a routine helps to ensure your rest is, well, restful, making you more effective during work hours.

Quote fast and fresh

Don’t let paperwork pile up. Completing quotes promptly not only keeps clients happy and prevents tasks from spilling into your downtime but you’ll also be quoting when the information is fresh in your mind, meaning a more accurate and effective response for the client.

Consider a virtual assistant

Administrative tasks can eat up hours better spent elsewhere. A virtual assistant can handle emails, scheduling, and invoicing, giving you more time to focus on the work you enjoy or to relax. There are many out there that totally transform tradie workflows for cheap or free.

Make time for loved ones

Relationships are a vital part of a balanced life. Still make time for romantic dinners, weekend getaways, or even short phone calls with loved ones so you feel that emotional support and ultimately reduce your stress level.

Exercise beyond the worksite

Physical labour on-site isn’t the same as intentional exercise. Activities like yoga, gym sessions, or walking help relieve tension, improve fitness, and clear your mind.

Don’t do it alone

Share the workload when possible. Hire staff, collaborate with co-workers and peers, and seek advice from trade networks. Asking for help doesn’t weaken your independence—it strengthens your business and personal wellbeing.

Why the Industry Needs a Culture Shift

Maybe it’s time for the trade industry – and the workforce generally at that – to value output and productive work over the hours we put in. We celebrate heard work but overlook its toll on wellbeing, and this cost is undeniable.

A culture shift where we value productivity and mental health equally would help us all to enjoy longer and more fulfilling careers. Sidestep burnout by taking proactive steps that will improve your work life and keep you in top shape on site and beyond.

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