As a recruiter, it’s my job to speak with professionals who are actively or passively considering looking for a new job. One of the most common discussions I have now (even more so since the pandemic) is around work-life balance and burnout. Cybersecurity is a notoriously demanding industry, with roles carrying vast pressure and responsibilities, and plenty of off-hours support thrown in for good measure.
What can be done to avoid burnout? I spoke with Nick Cozzolino, Director of Information Security at The Bonadio Group, about how he manages work-life balance and the advice he has for those suffering burnout at work. Nick stated that it was the unpredictable “curveball” events that you have very little control over that cause the most stress and anxiety. These can happen at any time and the fallout can be enormous – such as the SolarWinds hack in 2020.
So, what can you do to manage these curveball events as well as daily responsibilities? Nick gave me some core pieces of advice for those struggling with work-life balance and burnout:
1. Learn how to prioritize and maximize your time.
Throughout your day you will have many things competing to try and grab your attention. It is almost impossible to attend to them all. Start by calculating how much time each task takes and which tasks are most important, and complete them with a matter of urgency.
It’s highly unlikely you will be able to complete 100% of your tasks every day – don’t beat yourself up about it or get too overwhelmed, but ensure you have the systems in place to tackle the most crucial.
Ask Yourself: Do I currently use a system to prioritize workload? How do I ensure the most important tasks get done first?
2. Don’t try and be everything to everyone.
Choose what you want to do and stick with it. If you want to be a leader, then get involved with management and strategy. If you want to be technically hands-on, then hone your craft.
One of the most important points is to utilize your team. If you are a leader, then you need to learn to delegate and hand off some activities. If you are an analyst, then draw upon your team and ask for support. Utilize all the resources you have in their strongest areas to maximize results.
Ask Yourself: Am I playing to my strengths? Am I using my team in the most effective way?
3. Make time for yourself.
It’s important to allocate time for your own physical and mental well-being. It may be a 30-minute run before the start of the day or a few pages of the latest novel at lunchtime – it is crucial to give yourself time to switch off from your job and channel some energy into something you enjoy. Think about whether your activities are contributing to your mental/physical health, career or personal satisfaction.
Ask Yourself: Where can I fit more time in for myself? When did I last enjoy something non-work-related during the working week?
Attaining the perfect work-life balance can be difficult, but by taking on the above advice and asking yourself these analytical questions, it can certainly get you thinking about how best to utilize your time and guard against burnout.