These days, there isn’t one person I know who doesn’t deal with the feeling of being overwhelmed at least once a day. We all have too much to do. However, these feelings add up. Sooner or later, the body is taking so much stress and frustration that it declares, “Time Out!” Unfortunately, this time out tends to show up in our health (how many colds have you had this year?), in our patience level with our staff members, family, friends and the traffic, and in a decrease in the enjoyment of our work. To deal with this “burnout,” we often numb out in order to cope with the flood of negative feelings. We may feel less pain, but we also lose our ability to have a deep experience of joy in any part of our lives.

You may have read tips in the past describing what you should do. Instead, here’s some advice for WHAT NOT TO DO, then what to do instead.

The Top 7 Ways You Can Drain Your Energy At Work....And How You Can Choose to Stay Living While You’re Alive

1. Focus on what you can’t control.
When you focus on what you can't control, like the work styles of others, the economy, and the personality of your children, you have little energy left to create. Focus instead only on what you can control, like taking care of yourself, meeting the goals that excite you, and discovering what you can delegate.

2. Hold on too tightly to what you thought would happen.
Clinging to your expectations blocks out possibilities. We all have pictures of what we thought our careers and lives would look like at a certain point. Then life intervenes but we don't change the picture, setting us up for frustration and disappointment. Taking what you have today, draw a new vision for your future. Then choose to fine tune your vision on a regular basis.

3. Don’t ask for help.
What a burden having to know and do everything for yourself. Asking for help doesn't make you look weak. It's a strength knowing how to best use your resources.

4. Listen to your brain.
The brain was designed to protect us, so it is often on the lookout for the worst possible scenarios so there are no surprises. Don't let your brain speak so loud that you don't see all your options. Instead, find a quiet place. Write down everything that your brain is telling you in the moment. Then investigate the truth of these statements. Is that manager really an idiot or could there be gaps in the communication flow? Are those people really apathetic, or could they be reacting to the changes in priorities? Brainstorm all possibilities before you decide which ones are best to act on.

5. Take yourself seriously.
Taking your work seriously is admirable. Taking yourself seriously is a joke. Woody Allen said, "Comedy is tragedy plus time." If you’re going to laugh someday anyway, why not start now?

6. Forget to say thank you.
Be grateful for what you overlook. You'll be amazed at how much of what is going on around you is good. Thank the cashier in the grocery store for working quickly. Thank the post office for having enough clerks during rush hour. Thank your muscles for being healthy when you are painfully exercising. Shift your energy to gratitude, even humor, and you’ll lighten up your load.

7. Give up.
You’ve spent years creating the habits that so efficiently drain you. Becoming someone new takes time. Look at your new vision every day. The difficulties matter less when you have somewhere to go.

Dr. Marcia Reynolds, author of Outsmart Your Brain, is the president of Covisioning, a coaching and training company focused on helping people and organizations access emotional intelligence and courage to reach their visions. You can read more about Marcia and her work at this website, www.outsmartyourbrain.com. Find out more about Marcia.