Understanding and Preventing Burnout
Are you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and exhausted? Do you find yourself too tired to get out of bed, or feeling like nothing you do is ever good enough? Do you feel like you’re struggling to keep up with the demands of life? If so, you may be experiencing burnout. Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. It can manifest itself in many different ways, including insomnia, being easily agitated and difficulty concentrating; and can leave you feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope with your life. The good news is that burnout can be prevented. Understanding the signs and symptoms of burnout can help you recognise when it’s time to take action before it becomes a serious problem.
Burnout often takes the form of physical symptoms like fatigue or insomnia, but it can also manifest as psychological symptoms such as decreased motivation, increased irritability and difficulty concentrating. If any of these sound familiar to you, take a step back and examine your life for signs of burnout. Are you working long hours without taking any breaks for yourself? Are there aspects in your personal life that feel overwhelming? Are there any unhealthy coping mechanisms that are causing additional stress in your life (e.g., drinking or turning to junk food)? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then it’s time to ask for help and start taking steps towards preventing further burnout.
Burnout is a state of physical and psychological exhaustion caused by prolonged exposure to stressful situations or environments. It can lead to feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and even depression. Common signs of burnout include fatigue, lack of motivation, difficulty concentrating or remembering things, irritability or anger, insomnia or sleeping too much, decreased productivity at work or school, changes in appetite or weight loss/gain, social withdrawal and isolation from family and friends, substance abuse (alcohol or drugs), increased illness such as headaches or stomach problems.
What Should I Do If I Am Experiencing Burn Out?
If you are already experiencing signs of burn out then it's important that you start taking steps right away towards recovery. Start by acknowledging that something needs to change; often this alone can be enough for us to gain some clarity on what needs addressing first in our lives (e.g., reducing our workload). Make sure that you are getting enough rest each night (7-8 hours) as well as eating healthy meals throughout the day; these two things alone will help boost energy levels which are often depleted. Additionally consider talking through your feelings with someone close who understands what you're going through—often having an outlet where we can express our worries/fears helps us gain perspective on our situation which leads us towards making better decisions in terms of managing our stress levels overall! Don’t forget adding “no” into your vocabulary, being able to priories your tasks and activities can also significantly elevate the stress you feel you are under.
How Can I Prevent Burnout?
The best way to prevent burnout is to practice self-care on a regular basis. This means taking the time to nourish your body and soul with activities that bring you joy such as yoga classes, meditation sessions or just taking a walk in nature. Making sure you get enough sleep each night is also important for preventing burnout; aim for around 8 hours per night. Eating healthy nutritious meals throughout the day will also help boost your energy levels so that you’re better able to cope with stressors in your life. Finally don’t be afraid to ask for help when needed—talking through your problems with a friend or therapist can make all the difference in helping you manage stress more effectively! It’s important to understand that burn out doesn’t happen overnight; it builds up over time until it reaches a breaking point. Therefore, prevention should be your primary concern when dealing with burnout.
Burn out can have serious consequences if left unchecked; however, the good news is that there are steps we can take both before and after we experience symptoms of burn out in order to prevent further damage from occurring. Asking for help from family members or seeking professional assistance from psychotherapists can go a long way towards managing stress levels in our lives so that we don’t reach dangerous levels of exhaustion down the line. Taking care of ourselves should always be our top priority—so don't be afraid to seek support when needed!
If you want to learn more about feelings and emotions and gain a variety of skills to manage them, enrol in our online course Working with Emotions, which will guide you to understand what you feel and how that manifests in your body, mind, and actions.