How to Deal With Burnout?

Have you been feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and just plain tired? Are you having difficulty completing tasks that were once easy for you? Feeling burnt out is common, but it can be difficult to combat.

Burnout is a state of physical and mental exhaustion caused by long-term stress or overwork. It can leave you feeling overwhelmed with no motivation and struggling to maintain the same level of performance. Burnout can affect almost any aspect of your life - from work life to relationships and even your physical health.

If you are dealing with burnout, there are steps you can take to help yourself recover and regain control of your life. In this article, we will explore how to identify signs of burnout, understand its causes, and look at effective strategies on how to cope with burnout.

Job burnout: How to spot it?

Burnout is more than you think.

Burnout is a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed and unable to meet the demands being placed on your body or mind. Common signs of burnout include feeling exhausted, unmotivated and constantly run-down, having difficulty sleeping, feelings of hopelessness or apathy, decreased performance at work or school, lack of focus and concentration, frequent absences from work due to illness, behaviors such as drinking more alcohol than usual to cope with stress.

One of the most common signs that you're experiencing job burnout is loss of motivation. You may notice an overall feeling of apathy towards work or generally not having any energy for completing tasks. Additionally, you may find yourself struggling to concentrate or becoming increasingly irritable or cynical about your work and colleagues.

Physical symptoms can often indicate job burnout as well. If you’ve been frequently experiencing headaches, nausea, insomnia, fatigue or other similar physical ailments with no clear cause then it's likely they are being caused by excessive stress in the workplace.

Burnout can be caused by working too hard for too long without taking breaks or engaging in activities that provide respite from the daily grind. This kind of behavior leads to a build-up of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline which can eventually lead to burnout if it isn’t offset with relaxation or restorative activities. In addition to work-related factors, individual differences such as perfectionism or a negative attitude can put people at higher risk for burnout as well since they are already prone to overexertion and tend to feel overwhelmed more easily than others.

There are three types of burnout: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. Emotional exhaustion refers to feeling emotionally drained or exhausted from work-related activities. You may be overwhelmed or have difficulty completing tasks due to lack of energy. Depersonalization is having a negative attitude towards your colleagues, clients or organization that you work for.

Today the risk of burnout is higher than ever.

It’s important to recognize the signs of burnout in order to take steps to address it and prevent further damage. With the rise of technology, more people are working longer hours with less breaks and this can increase the risk of burnout. Additionally, the current economic climate has led to a decrease in job security which can also contribute to feelings of anxiety and stress.

Is burnout the same thing as depression?

Burnout and depression are two distinct mental health issues that can both have a negative impact on someone's life. While they may seem similar, they are actually very different in terms of symptoms and causes.

Depression is an extremely serious medical condition that cannot be simply snapped out of like burnout can be. It's caused by various chemical imbalances in the brain that can lead to intense feelings of sadness, worthlessness or hopelessness. There are many potential causes including genetics, trauma or environmental factors such as a stressful job or death of a loved one. Symptoms include persistent feelings of sadness lasting longer than two weeks, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, extreme changes in appetite or sleep patterns & feelings of guilt or low self-worth.

While burnout and depression share some common symptoms such as fatigue and low motivation levels, they should not be confused with one another since their root causes are so different. Burnout should be addressed promptly to prevent it from escalating into more complex conditions such as depression which require psychological treatment.

Consequences of workplace burnout

Job burnout can have serious consequences on both an individual’s mental and physical health. If left untreated, burnout symptoms can lead to feelings of depression, chronic fatigue, insomnia, headaches, and heightened stress levels. It can also lead to increased risk for major illnesses such as heart disease and stroke. It can have a major direct impact on your personal health, and shouldn't be taken lightly or brushed off.

When an employee is feeling exhausted mentally and physically due to job burnout it can affect their performance in the workplace. Burnout leaves individuals feeling unmotivated, unproductive, and unable to concentrate which leads to lower productivity and efficiency at work. In the long-term this reduced job performance could potentially lead to demotions or even layoffs.

Burned out employees can also harm their relationships with co-workers which can create a hostile work environment and lower morale in the office. This dysfunction can end up spreading throughout other areas of the company or business if it is not taken care of in time.

Finally, burnout has been linked to changes in personality traits due to prolonged stress including being more irritable, less patient and less resilient against future challenges that one may encounter in the workplace. Taking steps early on to recognize when one is feeling burned out is essential in preserving not only physical but emotional well-being too.

Handling job burnout

Trying to deal with burnout is hard, it's always going to be a difficult time. You may feel like you can simply put it off, until things get easier at work. But the effects of burnout are not just impacting your work life, but your personal life as well. You may experience a shorter temperament, taking your frustration or stress out on close friends and/or family. Take the time to reflect and these key steps to really improve your ability to deal with burnout healthily.

The first step to handling job burnout is to reframe your mindset. Instead of seeing your job as a chore, look at it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Take some time during your workday to reflect on what you’re doing and how it’s making a difference in the world. Remember why you took this job in the first place!

Take a short period of time to identify potential stressors or sources of anxiety in your job — a difficult boss or workload spikes — so you can begin to address them. Then, self-regulate by taking breaks throughout the day: walk around your office building at lunchtime or during meetings; use meditation apps; practice stretching exercises to stay refreshed between tasks. Consider scheduling periods of uninterrupted time throughout the week as well as blocks of non-work activities that will give you the opportunity to rest and connect with the people you care about.

Making time for self-care should also be a priority if you want to beat job burnout. Spend time with friends or family, read a book, or take up a hobby – anything that will help distract you from stress and bring back joy into your life. Finally, remember that the quality of your life matters more than quantity when it comes to work and career successes. Taking necessary breaks from work can actually improve productivity levels in the long run, so don’t be afraid to push back against working late hours or taking on extra projects when needed!

Finally, reflect on the work that you do and its meaningfulness — this will help remind you why it’s worth your while to keep going even when exhaustion sets in. With these tips, you’ll be better equipped to handle job burnout and create more harmony in your daily life!

Know when you're working too much.

In this modern age of technology and fast-paced lifestyles, burnout can be a common issue. Knowing when you are working too much is key to avoiding the consequences of chronic stress, lack of control, and heavy workloads.

The first step in understanding when to take a break is recognizing the signs and symptoms of burnout that may include feelings such as exhaustion, low self esteem and irritability. A great way to combat it is by creating a work/life balance so you are not overwhelmed by your workloads. This can mean setting clear boundaries between work time and home life by setting realistic goals for yourself for completing tasks.

It’s also important to learn how to cope with the feeling that you have no control over your own life - especially when it comes to work related stressors like long hours or impossible deadlines. By learning to recognize situations outside your direct control, seek help from colleagues or managers if necessary or prioritize tasks according to their importance will help avoid any mental health problems due to overwhelming tasks. Taking regular breaks while working is also recommended in order maintain focus and reduce stress levels. Ultimately if burnout persists even after taking preventative steps — be sure to reach out for medical help.

One way to tell if you are overworking is to look at your day-to-day routine and see what you can adjust in order to reduce the amount of stress that you experience. For instance, if regular activity is part of your daily routine such as exercise or taking a walk outside during lunchtime, pay attention if these activities start falling off for no reason. It could be a sign that you are pushing yourself too hard and need some time off from work.

Another warning signal can be changes in your emotional health like feeling disconnected from family life or friends. Take breaks from the hustle and bustle on weekends and enjoy quality time with those who mean the most to you. It’s also good practice to take a few moments each day for deep breathing exercises which can help center yourself and bring balance back into your life/work hours ratio. Taking care of yourself is crucial so don’t ignore when something doesn’t feel right – it might just be telling you it is time for a break!

Ask for Help

Asking for help is an important part of overcoming burnout. If you have reached a point where you don’t have enough energy or motivation to handle your workload on your own, it’s time to ask for help. Don’t be embarrassed or ashamed—burnout can happen to even the most capable and hardworking among us. It’s ok to reach out when you are in need.

Start off with an honest conversation with someone trustworthy and close to you—whether it’s a spouse, friend, mentor, boss or co-worker. Explain clearly how exhausted you are feeling lately and what has been causing the levels of stress in your life. Talk about reducing the amount of work you do and getting more rest if possible. It may be something as simple as delegating some tasks or asking for support from someone else who can pick up some responsibility for now than can you handle at this stage of burnout.

The act of asking for help can give back a sense of control and improve your overall quality of life in the long term by avoiding eventual habitual burnout caused by excess work load or running away from personal issues that drive people into the road to burnout once again after recovering from it temporarily by doing simple tasks like relaxation and taking breaks from their relationships and job responsibilities taking enough rest and preferably going away on vacation if possible.

Ultimately there isn't a one-stop antidote to burnout. However, hopefully being open to honest conversations and seeking professional help will help you to make important strides on reducing the daily stress on various aspects of life and reducing burnout.