Today I’ll be sharing how to deal with feeling burned out.
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Sometimes it feels like life is just one thing after another. You wake up and rush to work, come home, cook dinner, take care of the kids or pets, go to bed only to do it all over again. And then there’s the laundry, groceries, cleaning…
It’s no wonder we get burned out! But what exactly is burnout? Burnout can be caused by a number of things: caring for others; long hours at work; lack of sleep or exercise; family issues; financial problems or stressors in general.
Know what burnout is.
The first step to deal with feeling burned out is knowing what burnout is and recognizing the signs. Burnout is a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion. It’s a feeling of being drained by your work and not being able to do anything else.
It can be caused by overwork or working in an unhealthy environment, but it can also just be something that happens in life when you don’t experience new things or set expectations for yourself that aren’t realistic.
Burnout isn’t always bad – sometimes people need to take time off because they’re burned out before they come back stronger than ever! But if your burnout lasts too long without any breaks or recovery periods, then it could lead to depression or other mental health issues like anxiety disorders (which are very common among people who feel burned out).
If you think that this might be happening with yourself right now: don’t worry! There are lots of ways we can fix this problem together so let’s get started now! Note: Please see a mental health professional if needed.
Types of Burnout
- Job burnout. I think this is what most people think of when they think of feeling burned out. When you do the same job every day, or are constantly being reprimanded by your boss, you might start to hate your job.
- Physical burnout. This type of burnout refers to physical exhaustion, and can come from overexertion or lack of sleep. For example, if you’re running yourself ragged trying to get everything done at work and at home (or both), your body will eventually begin protesting by making itself feel tired, sore, or weak–so much so that it may be difficult for you even to get out of bed in the morning.
- Mental burnout. Mental fatigue occurs when we feel mentally exhausted as a result of prolonged stress or frustration with our jobs or other aspects of life; it’s usually linked with feelings such as depression and anxiety that are caused by our inability to cope effectively with these situations.
- Caregiver burnout – caring for someone who has been diagnosed with cancer can lead caregivers into caregiver depression which is characterized by feelings such as hopelessness/helplessness/worthlessness
Warning Signs of Burnout
Burnout is a serious condition, and it can be difficult to tell if you’re experiencing burnout. If you’re feeling burned out, there are some warning signs you should watch out for.
You’ve Become Critical
You’re becoming critical. This is a natural reaction to burnout, and it can lead to some pretty harsh behavior. You might be less tolerant of others, more demanding and judgmental–especially when it comes to yourself! You may also find yourself criticizing your job or colleagues more often than usual.
It might feel like something’s missing in your life right now, but don’t worry: this feeling will pass as soon as you start putting some energy back into yourself again (and maybe even before then).
You’re Exhausted
If you’re exhausted, it’s a sign that burnout is beginning to set in. You need to rest and recharge your batteries as soon as possible.
You Feel Depressed
If you are feeling depressed, it’s important to know that this is a normal reaction to stress. Depression can be caused by burnout and it may require medication and therapy to treat.
You Can’t Focus
You find yourself staring at a screen or paper, but you just can’t focus on the task at hand. There is so much to do and so little time to accomplish it all, but there’s nothing that seems important enough to get done right now–so why bother?
This is one of the most common symptoms of burnout: feeling overwhelmed by your workload and unable to accomplish anything meaningful because of it.
You’ve Lost Interest in Things you Enjoy
You don’t feel like doing anything, and you don’t care about the things you used to love. You’re not interested in anything anymore, and even if there’s something that catches your eye or sounds fun at first, it doesn’t take long before the thought of doing it leaves your mind completely.
The only thing that seems appealing is taking a nap or binge-watching Netflix–and even then, those activities aren’t exactly energizing!
Your Sleep has Changed
If you’re not getting enough sleep, it’s time to make an adjustment. You might be waking up in the middle of the night and having trouble falling back asleep or just having trouble getting to sleep. Try taking a bath or listening to some relaxing music before bedtime. If this doesn’t work, there could be a more serious issue at play–like depression or anxiety–that requires professional help.
If you’re sleeping more than normal (more than 10 hours), then take a look at what else might be going on in your life: Are there things that are stressing you out? Is this just how people react when they have too much free time? Either way, don’t let yourself get stuck in a routine where all of your free time is spent sleeping; try finding other ways to relax instead!
You Hate your Job
If you’re feeling burned out, it’s likely that your job isn’t what it used to be. Maybe the idea of going into work each day is no longer appealing or fulfilling. It might have been the wrong fit for you from the start and now, years later, it’s become clear that this isn’t where your passion lies.
Or maybe everything was fine until something changed: A new boss came onboard who doesn’t appreciate your work ethic; one of your colleagues left and took all their clients with them; or perhaps there was simply a shift in priorities at higher levels within the organization (or maybe even within yourself).
Whatever has happened recently at work has caused enough stress that now everything feels like too much effort–even when there are things out there waiting for us beyond our cubicles!
You Experience Physical Symptoms
If you experience physical symptoms, it’s important to seek out a medical professional. Sometimes stress manifests as physical symptoms like:
- Headaches
- Muscle tension (especially in the neck and shoulders)
- Stomach aches or other gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea and nausea
- Fatigue (feeling tired all the time)
- Dizziness when standing up suddenly
How to Recover from Burnout
Now that you can recognize the signs of burnout, here is how to recover from burnout.
Know when to take a break and get help.
If you’re feeling burned out, it’s important to know when it’s time to take a break. Take time off from work and social events so that you can rest and recharge your batteries.
It also helps to have support from friends and family members during this period of time. If things get overwhelming or start affecting your health, seek professional help as soon as possible.
Sometimes one of the best ways to deal with feeling burned out is just taking time to step away.
Ask for Help
When you’re feeling burned out, it’s important to be honest with yourself. If you’re struggling with your job and need help, don’t be afraid to ask for it!
It can be difficult to admit that we need help in the first place. It could be just asking a family member if they could help you clean, or you can see a mental health professional to deal with feeling burned out.
Don’t Take your Work Home
You know what you should do? You should not take your work home with you. I know, this is probably a tough one for many people. But it’s so important to get a handle on the fact that work stress is not something that needs to be brought into our personal lives, especially if we don’t have control over it.
You don’t want to go through life feeling burned out because of the things going on at work; so when evening rolls around and all those frustrations start creeping up again (and trust me, they will), try not thinking about them anymore–at least for now! Instead focus on relaxing activities like watching TV or reading a book before bedtime so that when morning comes around again there’ll be nothing but positive vibes in store for both mind and body!
Set Boundaries
One of the best ways to deal with feeling burned out is setting boundaries. Do you have too much on your plate? Are there certain tasks that can be delegated or eliminated from your daily routine? Are there any projects that are no longer worth pursuing because they’re not productive or inspiring anymore? If so, stop doing them!
It’s hard to do, but we have to learn to set boundaries, whether it’s with work or our families. It’s okay to say no. No is a full sentence.
Use Coping Strategies
Sometimes when we are stressed, we fall back on bad habits. When I get stressed out, I tend to stress eat like crazy. Others smoke or drink or even just bottle up our feelings.
It’s time to learn more beneficial coping strategies for relieving stress.
Here are some examples of coping techniques for burn out:
- Taking deep breaths when stressed
- Practice mindfulness
- Exercising
- Meditating
- Talk with someone
- Progressive muscle relaxation
Do Things that Make you Happy
The best way to deal with feeling burned out is to do things that make you happy. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, try these tips:
- Find hobbies and activities that you enjoy. Whether it’s going for a walk around the block or taking salsa lessons, doing something fun will help relieve stress and give you a break from work.
- Get involved in a cause that matters to you. Volunteering can be an excellent way to meet people who share similar interests as well as learn about new causes that might inspire future volunteer opportunities or career paths!
- Spend time with family and friends–or take time away from them if they are part of the problem! A few days away from loved ones may be just what it takes for both parties involved (and hopefully some good conversation on both sides).
Create a Sleep Routine
To deal with feeling burned out, you need to create a sleep routine that allows you to get enough rest.
How much sleep do I need? – Most adults need between 7-9 hours per night on average; however there are some people who require more or less depending on their age and overall health status.
Create a routine – Having a consistent bedtime routine helps prepare both mind & body for restful slumber so try setting aside 15 minutes before going up stairs such as reading something or doing this nightly routine.
Try to find the right balance between work and life.
It’s important that you take time off when you need it, but also make sure that you are taking care of yourself. Don’t bring your work home with you and try to find a balance between work and fun!
I know it’s hard, so you’ll have to make time.
Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a practice of focusing your attention on the present moment. It can be as simple as taking a few deep breaths, being aware of your thoughts and feelings, or doing some gentle stretching–whatever brings you into the here and now.
The most important thing about mindfulness is that it’s not about achieving any particular state of mind or feeling; it’s just about being present for whatever happens next in your life. You might find yourself thinking about something else entirely after only five minutes–that’s okay!
Mindfulness isn’t just useful when you’re figuring out how to deal with feeling burned out; it can be used any time that life gets stressful or overwhelming–and even when things are going well!
Tips to Prevent Burnout
You can use all of the tips above to deal with feeling burned out, but you can also use them to help prevent you ever feeling that way.
- Make time for yourself. You need to practice self care, so make sure you have time to do the things that are important to you and make you happy. If you’re feeling burned out, it’s a good idea to take a break from work and spend some time doing something else that isn’t related to your job–whether it’s going out with friends or taking up an activity like cooking or reading novels.
- Have realistic expectations about what can be achieved. If there are too many tasks on your plate at once, then they won’t get done as well as they could be if they were spread over several days instead of being crammed into one busy day full of stress and anxiety! Remember that if something takes longer than expected then don’t beat yourself up over it–just try again tomorrow!
- Take breaks throughout each day: This can help prevent fatigue which leads directly towards burnout because our bodies need rest just like our minds do! It also gives us opportunities for reflection where we can reflect upon how we feel about certain aspects of our lives without having any distractions around us like work emails/phone calls etcetera which might make them harder than necessary 🙂
How to Deal with Feeling Burnt Out Summed Up
Burnout is something that can happen to anyone, and it’s important to know how to deal with it. If you’re feeling burned out at work or at home, remember that there are many ways to recover from this state of exhaustion.
You can take a break from work, ask for help from others who care about your well-being (like friends or family), and try some mindfulness practices so that you don’t get overwhelmed by stress again!
I hope learning how to deal with feeling burnt out will help you live a happier life!
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