Burnout is a form of exhaustion caused by constantly feeling swamped. It happens when we experience too much emotional, physical, and mental fatigue for too long. In many cases, burnout is related to one’s job. But burnout can also happen in other areas of your life and affect your health.
Burnout can be caused by stress, but it’s not the same. Stress results from too much mental and physical pressure and too many demands on your time and energy. Burnout is about too little. Too little emotion, motivation, or care. Stress can make you feel overwhelmed, but burnout makes you feel depleted and used up.
The condition isn’t medically diagnosed. But burnout can affect your physical and mental health if you don’t acknowledge or treat it.
Burnout keeps you from being productive. It makes you feel hopeless, cynical, and resentful. The effects of burnout can hurt your home, work, and social life. Long-term burnout can make you more vulnerable to colds and flu.
Job burnout is a type of stress linked to work. It includes being worn out physically or emotionally. Job burnout also may involve feeling useless, powerless and empty.
1. Work with purpose
What does your work mean to you? How does it help others? Rediscovering your purpose can provide you with direction and give you a sense of accomplishment.
2. Take control
Gaining autonomy in your role enables you to manage your time and tasks effectively. Use to-do lists and Action Plan to bring order to your workload.
3. Rationalise your workload
When things “don’t let up” it can make you feel demoralized and stressed. Do a Job Analysis to clarify what’s expected of you and what isn’t. This will help you to prioritize what tasks are important, and what can be delegated or even postponed.
4. Exercise regularly
Exercise can help you to “switch off” fully from work and other stressors. It can also improve your wellbeing and enable you to get a better night’s sleep.
5. Learn to manage stress
Use techniques like mindfulness and deep breathing to stay calm and relaxed. This will also help you to stay more relaxed and prepared to take on new challenges.
How can you make it harder for burnout happen to you?
