We live in a fast-paced world where sometimes society can make us feel like enough is not good enough. So, in those cases we work longer, push harder, and do not take breaks in fear of failure and being judged. Working hard and pushing yourself are not bad qualities to have, but what happens when you go too far? If you run at this pace for too long, you could be on the road to burnout. Burnout can be described as feeling empty and mentally exhausted, devoid of motivation and beyond caring. It can happen when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands. Individuals in every lifestyle can experience burnout; CEO’s, college students, those who stay at home, therapists, carpenters, any person who overdoes it for too long and lets their work-life balance get out of sync.
What are some signs of burnout?
There are both physical, emotional, and behavioral signs to watch for if you think you or someone you know is experiencing burnout.
Physical signs include fatigue, decreased immune system, headaches and change in eating or sleep habits.
Emotional signs are self-doubt, feeling defeated or helpless, detachment, negative outlook, and reduced
sense of accomplishment.
And finally behavioral signs include isolation, procrastination, substance use, directing frustrations at others, and withdrawing from responsibilities.
What is causing burnout?
Contrary to many beliefs, burnout can also be caused by other factors outside of stressful work or too many responsibilities. Sometimes your lifestyle, personality and how you view the world can play a role as well. Some lifestyle causes include lack of supportive relationships, taking on too much with too little or no help, lack of sleep or working too much.
Personality factors include being a perfectionist, a negative attitude, need for control and high achievers.
What to do if you are burned out
Now that we have discussed some signs and symptoms of burnout, what do you do if you think you are experiencing it yourself? First, most of you want to take care of your mental health. Reaching out to a therapist could be a suitable place to start. Talking to someone who is not family, or a friend may allow you to be more open about what you are going through so you can fully heal.
Make sure to add breaks to your schedule. Whether you work from home, the office or are a stay-at-home try to fit time in for yourself throughout the day. That could be a short walk, reading a book, working out; anything to clear your mind and make sure you are doing okay mentally and physically.
Try to exercise. Physical activity is not only great for your body but for your mind as well. You do not have to spend hours at the gym to reap these benefits. A walk, stretching, bike ride or any kind of movement is going to help in handling burnout.
Try to be emotionally present. Too many of us are there physically but not emotionally or mentally. We need to slow down and just be. Deep breathing can help with this as we must focus on inhaling and exhaling.
Set up boundaries. This can be hard (I am working on it myself), but it can help reduce and aid in prevention of burnout. We must know when to ask for help or when to say no. We are only one person and cannot be everything to everyone.
Burnout is hard and a very real thing many people deal with, but you can and will get through it. Recognizing that you are experiencing it and finding the cause can help you address the issue.
Life is meant to be enjoyed, but we so often put too much pressure on ourselves and cannot seem to do that. We need to learn to let go and be present. I am working on this myself. We are works in progress