Burnout is a feeling of being constantly exhausted and feeling overwhelmed. It can occur when we are exposed to prolonged physical, emotional or mental stress. It can leave us unable to keep up and cope with life’s demands. Are you in a season of long-term stress? Have you felt the effects of burnout? Below we will talk about ways to recognize burnout as well as steps you can take that could help bring back normal levels of managing life’s demands and tasks.
What Types of Burnout are There?
There are many circumstances that can push us into a place of feeling overwhelmed or stressed, unable to perform our responsibilities. While our jobs can be a major contributor there are other things that also add to our feelings of exhaustion. Some of those are listed below.
- Heavy workloads that require consistent overtime
- Unbalanced or unfair treatment at work
- Lack of support
- Overload from pursuing success in something
- Chronic insomnia
- Being a caregiver for a long period of time
- Compassion burnout
- Cycles from different types of addiction
How Do I Identify Burnout?
As mentioned above, there are different types of burnout but often times, some of the same circumstances cause can cause it. Keep in mind that burnout doesn’t happen overnight or quickly. It usually is gradual and will become heavier over time. Often times there are more than one situation or circumstance that is involved. Our bodies ability to cope and compensate decrease while simultaneously increasing our doubt and frustration with ourselves. Below are a few symptoms that could point to the possibility that you are experiencing burnout. It’s important to act upon the condition(s) as they can cause major life disruptions if left unmanaged.
- You ignore your personal needs to accomplish work goals
- You neglect family commitments or needs to succeed at work
- You feel underchallenged or not useful in your career
- You feel there are no chances of advancement from your position
- You feel tired and exhausted all the time
- You lack enthusiasm or motivation
- Your drive to complete tasks has decreased
- You dread having to return to a regular task
- You take your frustrations out on those around you
Many of us find ourselves in a place of burnout in our lives. It can be a normal experience. Recognizing it is the first step. The next, most important step, is to seek change and/or help to be able to overcome the feelings. Below are some suggestions that could help.
How Do I Overcome Burnout?
As said above, the first step is recognizing what you are experiencing is real and can affect you and your family. Be kind to yourself, it is not a sign of weakness. It takes strength to stand up for yourself and care enough to keep yourself healthy for you and those who depend on you. Left alone, burnout can affect us mentally as well as physically. It can cause greater health issues that, if left alone, could need medical attention. If you could use ways to try to balance the responsibilities and keep yourself free from the overwhelming pressure of burnout, the below suggestions could help.
- Admit there is a problem
- Take a break or vacation to spend time considering your needs
- Incorporate activities to help your well-being
- Decide if a new job is necessary
- Make a change in lifestyle
- Ensure you get proper sleep each night
- Learn something new if you feel undervalued
- Learn to say no and set boundaries
Learning new routines in life can be hard. We are the only ones who can decide if our jobs or career own us, or we own them. We are the only one who can take a step toward the change we need. If you are experiencing burnout and have not been successful with managing it, we can help. Upstate Restorative Counseling can work with you establish goals as well as tools to help you achieve them. Reach out today. You don’t have to do this alone.
