🔶 Introduction
Burnout is a state of emotional, mental and physical exhaustion that can occur when you feel overworked or underappreciated.
Burnout can be caused by many factors including:
Stressful working conditions (long hours, lack of control over your work)
Lack of support from colleagues and managers (a feeling that no one cares about what you're doing)
⭕ Take a Break
Unplug from work. This can be difficult to do, but it's important that you take a break from work and focus on something else for a while. It's easy to get caught up in the cycle of working all day and then going home and continuing to work until you go to bed. Your brain needs time off!
Go on vacation or take some time off without having any concrete plans (i.e., "I'm going on vacation!"). If possible, plan this at least two weeks in advance so that there is enough time for your body and mind to relax before diving back into the daily grind again.* Focus on activities that help you relax and de-stress; these could include reading books, playing video games/board games with friends or family members, going outside into nature (hiking), meditating...the list goes on!
↪ Practice Self-care
Get enough sleep.
Eat a balanced diet.
Exercise regularly, or at least take the time to move your body every day in some way.
Engage in activities that you enjoy, whether it's playing video games or going for walks with friends and family members (or both!).
☰ Set Boundaries
Setting boundaries is an important part of recovering from burnout. It's important to limit the number of hours you work, and say no to additional tasks if you feel like you're already stretched too thin.
Setting achievable goals can also help prevent burnout by giving yourself something to be proud of when things are going well and something to look forward to when things aren't going so well.
👫 Reconnect with Loved Ones
Reconnect with Loved Ones
Spend time with friends and family. Make plans to do something fun, whether that's going out for a meal or movie, or just hanging out at home.
Indulge in Social Activities
If you're feeling isolated from others because of your work schedule, it can be helpful to get involved in activities outside of work that involve other people--join a book club or sports team (or both).
👍 Seek Professional Help
If you're feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, it's time to seek professional help. A mental health professional can provide a perspective on your situation that may not be obvious to you. They can also help develop resilience so that when similar situations arise in the future, you have an arsenal of coping mechanisms at your disposal.
➡ Conclusion ⬅
Burnout is a serious problem, but it's also one that can be overcome. If you're feeling burned out and need some help getting back on track, try these tips:
Take care of yourself. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, so make sure you're doing things that help keep both in tip-top shape. That might mean taking a vacation or scheduling regular exercise into your routine--whatever makes sense for you!
Get support from others who understand what it's like to be in a similar situation (or just know how hard it can be). It may seem like everyone around you has their life together while yours falls apart at the seams, but trust me when I say this isn't true; everyone has problems sometimes! If possible, find someone who has been through something similar before so they know exactly where to point their advice when things get tough again later down the road...and then maybe even again after that...and probably even later still after THAT happens too (it'll happen).