How to Recognize Burnout & 7 Tips to Prevent It

WHAT IS BURNOUT?

Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and often physical exhaustion that is typically brought on by prolonged or ongoing stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands.

As the stress continues, you begin to lose the interest or motivation that led you to take on a certain task in the first place.

If left unchecked, burnout can have serious long-term effects on your physical and mental health with symptoms including fatigue, loss of interest, and decreased productivity to name a few.

Burnout can appear in many areas of life, including work, relationships, school, and hobbies. It can manifest itself in physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion, difficulty concentrating, decreased motivation, and a lack of enthusiasm for activities that were once enjoyable. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, continue reading on.

WHAT ARE THE INDICATORS OF BURNOUT?

Identifying burnout can be difficult as it is not a medical diagnosis, and the signs and symptoms vary from person to person. It can be helpful to look out for signs such as feeling overwhelmed, disengagement from activities that used to be enjoyable, difficulty focusing, irritability, and sleeping too much or too little. It can be helpful to reach out to a mental health professional if you believe you are experiencing burnout.

There are indicators of burnout that are challenging to catch if you are not aware of what to look for. The following are some behaviors that are common indicators of burnout:

Feeling overwhelmed
Exhausted
Unmotivated
Decrease in work performance
Difficulty focusing
Lack of satisfaction with work, school, or daily life

Furthermore, burnout may also be signaled by physical symptoms that can sometimes go unnoticed or attributed to other things such as:

Headaches
Muscle tension
Digestive issues
Difficulty sleeping

If you are experiencing any of these, it is important to prioritize your mental health and/or seek help from a healthcare professional.

WAYS TO MANAGE BURNOUT

Burnout is a real and serious problem for people in all fields, so it’s important to take steps to prevent it. Here are some tips to help you stay healthy and motivated:

Make sure to take regular breaks throughout the day to give your mind and body a rest.
Take time to plan out your day and prioritize tasks so you do not feel overwhelmed.
Set time aside for yourself to do something that relaxes you, like reading a book, going on a walk, or taking a bath.
Stay organized and don't let yourself get too bogged down with work and tasks.
Get plenty of sleep and exercise to keep your energy levels up.
Learn to say no when you need to in order to avoid taking on more than you can handle.
Make sure to take time off or vacation when you need to.

Following these tips can help you avoid burnout and keep you motivated and productive in your day-to-day life. However, if you find yourself struggling with burnout, reach out for counseling services. We are here to help!