Burnout is a very real phenomenon, the adverse effects of which have become increasingly evident in recent years.
It is characterised as a state of extreme physical, emotional and mental exhaustion caused by chronic stress over a prolonged period of time. This can be caused by continuously overworking yourself, or even simply not feeling valued for the hard work you do.
If you are:
- Exhausted all the time and an 8-hour shift feels like 80 hours
- Uninterested in, or feeling negativity towards activities that would otherwise excite you at work
- Feeling incompetent at what you do
- Increasingly dissatisfied with your job
- Irritable by colleagues
- Distracted at work
- Experiencing sleep-related issues
Chances are, you’re experiencing burnout.
It’s time to take control!
If you let your burnout become worse or spin out of control, it can become extremely difficult to get yourself back to your healthy old self again.
Feeling burnt out may also affect all other areas of your life, and it’s best to take charge of your situation before it ends up taking charge of you:
- Take a break. Breathe, relax, let go.
- Set clear goals. Make a realistic work schedule & stick to it. Don’t overburden yourself by taking on more work than you can manage. Learn to say ‘no’
- Prioritize your mental and physical health over everything else. Make exercise & meditation a part of your daily routine. Adopt healthy eating habits. Sleep well.
- Practice self-care every day to ensure you’re in great shape inside and out!
- Start a journal or maintain an old one. Journaling can help us gain perspective about the conditions in our external & internal environment which are our stressors.
- Seek support. Reaching out for help is one of the most effective ways to cope with chronic stress.