Beware of Burnout

Beware of Burnout

If constant stress has you feeling helpless, disillusioned, and completely exhausted to the point where you have trouble remembering the names of people you know, you might want to proceed with caution and take a minute to reevaluate your lifestyle. All these symptoms are clear indicators that you are headed towards a state of burnout. This issue should not be taken lightly, as it can cause long-term chemical changes in your body that remain even after you feel better. If you allow for it to get the best of you, it may take a lot of hard work to bounce back. Burnout can happen to the best of us, and the causes differ, so let us take a closer look at what they are, so you might be able to stop the issue in its tracks.

The high-flyer pressure

You are great at what you do and you are always striving for perfection in the workplace. Beware: burnout can happen even to those who consider their jobs dream jobs. The harder you work and the more motivated you are to succeed, the easier it is to get in over your head. Before you know it, bringing your work home becomes the routine instead of a rare exception, and even when you are not at work, your mind is. Sure, the condition can happen to those who feel unhappy with their jobs, but more often than not, it is a result of improper self-care. According to Talentsmart, burnout can result in several severe physical and mental health issues, from pain and depression, heart disease, obesity, memory impairment, decision-making abilities, and this is just to name a few. In order to stop all these issues from befalling you, you need to act and you need to act today.

Set clear boundaries

When you leave the office, make sure you have really left it. Turn off your work phone, your email notifications and simply go off the grid. If you are available 24/7, you make it impossible for yourself to unwind and recharge, so you can have a productive new day. This constant work presence in your life is not only harmful for you, but for your career as well. If you burn out and your productivity vanishes, how will you thrive if you are left with nothing more to give?

Forgo multitasking

Also, stop trying to be in several places at the same time; recent studies have shown that multitasking is not the productivity silver bullet it is cracked up to be. In fact, sometimes trying to focus on too many tasks at once can actually sap your momentum. Take it one step at a time and commit to the moment and a sole task in front of you. You are not super-human; you do not have to do it all. This applies to the office, but also to your family and life in general. You do not have to do it all, some things will just have to wait, and worry not – they will still be there tomorrow.

Stay in tune with your body and mind

If you notice signs of depression rearing their ugly head, do not keep it all bottled up inside. Try talking to your superior about taking some time off. Confide in your spouse or close friends who understand you. Still, there are times when the best solution is to seek professional help. Your friends and family love you, but they often do not possess enough knowledge when it comes to the mystery that is the mind. We all need a guiding hand from time to time, and one of the best things you can do to keep your mental and emotional health is knowing when to look for help. This is the time to put your emotional well-being first and turn to reputable psychologists from Sydney, who will not only listen and truly understand you, but also educate you on methods and techniques you can apply later in life, so you never get close to the burnout edge again. In addition to that, make sure you keep your body moving, take up a sport – any sport. As medical experts from the Mayo Clinic claim, physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. Even if you are not much of a sports person, simple regular walks will do more than you think.

Praise yourself

One of the textbook symptoms of burnout is feeling overwhelmingly cynical and not deriving any satisfaction from your achievements. If that sounds like you, make it a point to take the time to recognize the effort you are putting in at work, and give yourself a subtle pat on the back when no one is looking. In fact, take it a step further and make a list of the things you have accomplished today and what you want to accomplish tomorrow. Even if you are feeling discouraged because no one else appreciates what you do, take a few minutes to be your own cheerleader.

Step back

If you put things on a scale and the bad outweigh the good by tons, perhaps it is not you, it is the job, and you might want to consider quitting and going someplace where you will feel greater job satisfaction and a sense of appreciation. The same goes for friends, family, relationships. If you are surrounded by toxic people, make the decision and cut the friendship ties loose – having toxic friends is worse than having no friends at all. As for your family or romantic life, if it ever becomes too overwhelming and hard, take a timeout, go away for a while, go on a road trip all by yourself and get some peace and clarity. Sometimes, all you need is to step back from it all, even just for a little while.