Burnout, while not technically considered a “mental disorder,” is an occupational hazard many of us regularly face in the 21st century. Many of us are stuck at home, working from the comfort of our own four walls. Sometimes you might lose track of time or are given too much work to handle, which can cause you to feel exhausted, stressed, and helpless.
Workplace burnout isn’t a condition, but it is a well-known phenomenon that can have a severe effect on your health and mental well-being. It’s not a disease, and it’s not something that can be cured. Burnout is a consequence of cumulative stress and strain, and it’s experienced by countless individuals every single day.
Why does burnout occur?
It’s a common misconception that if a person loves their job, they never get burned out. But the truth is even the most passionate employee will experience burnout if they face the wrong kind of demands.
Studies show that burnout is prevalent in workers who encounter high levels of stress and when there is high demand, and they cannot handle the job well. Other factors include working long hours, dealing with high levels of stress, having to meet unrealistic expectations, a toxic interpersonal environment, and feeling an unhealthy lack of control over their jobs.
If you are experiencing burnout from a workout, you should:
Analyze your current situation. There can be signs and symptoms that you’re already experiencing in terms of physical, emotional, and behavioral aspects. Some physical signs are feeling drained most of the time, a change in appetite, and frequent muscle or head pain.
In terms of your emotion, you might be losing motivation to do your tasks, feel helpless and trapped, and sense failure and doubt with you and your work. And with your behavior, you might be withdrawing from responsibilities, you isolate yourself, use drugs and alcohol to cope, and you just feel detached from the world.
Don’t ignore it. Burnout is very real, and it’s caused by things like stress and too much responsibility. Try to figure out ways to undo the damage by seeking support, managing it, and helping you rid of the symptoms.
Prioritize yourself. Take the time to focus on yourself. There’s no point in ignoring it and going your way with the feeling creeping up on you.
Self-care practices
The word ‘self-care sounds fancy but it simply means doing things for your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. No matter how simple or how lavish your self-care decisions are, they can help you feel relaxed. Take care of yourself — you’re worth it! Here are some self-care practices you can do to avoid or help your burnout.
Take A Shower
Take a bath to get your mind right. It doesn’t matter if you don’t shower, or even rinse your body or shave your legs. You can just soak and breathe, try to feel good, and think about the word you should be doing: chill.
If you have a tub, fill it in with enough warm water to cover you up to your shoulders and settle in for 30 minutes of sweet solitude. You can also turn up the heat in your shower and just feel the warmth traveling your body.
Try to Meditate
Meditation can let you relax and de-stress by focusing on your breathing pattern and allowing thoughts to pass through your head without judgment or attachment.
It has been gaining popularity as a way to deal with stress and enhance your well-being. Meditation can have a positive impact like lowering blood pressure, boosting your immune system, and improving general health and well-being.
Listen to Upbeat Songs
Put on a great playlist of feel-good songs and crank it up. Listen to relaxing music for mindfulness. Losing yourself in music can help you detach, relax, and reduce stress.
Turn up the music and dance to your favorite moves. Good music stimulates the release of endorphins, which are feel-good hormones that can boost your mood.
Take the Time Off
In most cases, taking a vacation from your devices will give you a fresh perspective on the situation at hand. Being stuck at home isn’t a time to overwork yourself. So yes, take a vacation day. Like really take it. Make sure you don’t have to check emails, texts, voicemails, or return calls for the entire time you are “off” work.
Get Out of Town
When nothing’s working, you might need a change in the environment. And travel might just be the answer. It might be a challenge to travel amidst the pandemic, but if you’re fully vaccinated and have the complete requirements then you’re all set!
Book your leave and research the perfect destination for you, like a luxury tour in Mongolia with its vast scenery and breathtaking mountains. Don’t hesitate to go all-in for your trip since an escape may be what you need.
Burnout can sneak up on you if you don’t pay attention. The signs are subtle at first but it worsens over time if you don’t take preventative action. But it can be prevented by prioritizing yourself and doing the necessary to heal.
