Stress and burnout: what to look for and how to deal with it
When everyday is full steam ahead, you may find yourself running out of steam…fast.
We want to talk about burnout. It’s a word we are certainly hearing more about from people coming into Some Other Solutions, and for good reason. Burnout is a real issue that many people are facing in today's fast-paced world. With the constant pressure to have it all together in all areas of life, it's no wonder that burnout is becoming more common.
Whether it's from work, school, relationships, or just trying to keep up with the demands of everyday life, burnout can have serious consequences on our mental and physical health.
What is burnout?
According to Psychology Today, burnout is a state of chronic stress that leads to:
physical and emotional exhaustion
cynicism and detachment
feelings of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment
Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. It has a way of sneaking up on you as your workload goes up and rest level goes down. The good news is that if you really listen to your body, you may see the signs before it becomes a real problem.
Burnout can look a lot like stress or depression, but here are a few things to watch for:
You’re exhausted. You’re feeling drained and just “done” everyday. Even a good night’s sleep isn’t helping you feel rested.
You’re not keeping up with your regular social life. People experiencing burnout will often stop doing the things they love to do. Maybe they can’t get over the exhaustion and the idea of going out and socializing just adds to the feelings of stress.
You’re not completing your tasks. Whether it’s your work to-do list or your home responsibilities, burnout can make it really hard to focus and handle the seemingly endless tasks many people deal with on a daily basis.
Your health is being impacted. Mental health and physical health don’t operate in silo’s. If you’re facing burnout, your physical body might start to react too, with body aches and pains and just a general feeling of unwell.
When we experience too much emotional, physical, and mental fatigue for too long, burnout can be the result. Luckily, there are many ways to come out of it and help is available.
Tackling burnout
So, what can you do? There are a few things you can do right away to start improving how you feel.
Acknowledge that you are not okay and that burnout is affecting you. Admitting there is an issue is the first step in solving it.
Take a break. Yes, your plate is full, but you need to do something that brings you a bit of joy. Go for a walk or call a friend.
Take a closer look at what is causing the burnout and get some advice on how to manage your time and workload.
Seeking a counsellor right away is a great start to having someone help you manage your stress and get to the source of what caused the burnout in the first place. We are here for you and ready to help you get through this, no matter what stage of burnout you are experiencing.
Click here to book an appointment.