Overcome Recession Fatigue

Here's the best strategy I've found to push through that Recession Fatigue: Shift your energy to those areas that you do have some control over and concentrate on being successful in those areas over the next few months.

Sound too easy? Here's a way to do just that...

Step 1. Take a piece of paper and draw out the five Olympic Circles. You will remember that there are five intersecting circles; three on the top and two on the bottom. Next, take a moment to think of the five areas of your current life that you value spending your time and energy doing. Often these are areas that you regretted not having time for in the past.

This may include such areas as your own health (exercise, eating well, and so on); learning by taking a class; picking up a new hobby or volunteer commitment; having more time with your children; mini-vacations with old friends, or maybe more quality involvement with your elderly parents. Pick what's important to you in this chapter of your life. Now, label each circle with one of those areas.

Step 2. Identify priority, short-term benchmarks in each of these areas. Be concrete: Is there a weight goal? A sports fitness goal? A passion you want to nurture? Do you want to be more available to your parents, your own kids or your friends? Keep the short-term benchmarks easy to remember and to track.

Step 3. Now identify when you will know that you have hit those benchmarks; when you've made your first short-term goal on exercising, learning, volunteering, or spending extra time with your own kids and parents. What will success look like? And don't forget to celebrate when you've reached those successes each and every time!

It's great (and critical) to feel productive, appreciated, and successful in these additional areas of your life. So even if this recession is beating you up on the job more than you expected, you can take control of other areas, and enjoy a wonderful boost of self-confidence from other equally important areas of your life.