What is Burnout?
Burnout can be defined as being in a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion which is brought on by prolonged and repeated stress. Though it’s most often caused by problems at work, it can also be caused by other aspects of our lives. When we think of the situation we’ve been in with COVID and how it’s impacted our lives at home and at work, we can see why we might be experiencing some form of burn out; we've experienced a type of chronic stress throughout the last year of the pandemic with its health, economic, and societal impacts and it's taken a huge toll on our mental wellbeing.
What does burnout look like?
Burnout can leave you feeling exhausted and sometimes makes it very difficult to cope with the demands of our daily lives. Even tasks that at one time were simple or routine can seem overwhelming and complicated. When it comes to burnout, there can be a number of physical and mental health symptoms to look out for.
Some signs and symptoms of burnout include:
Mental:
Difficulty concentrating and focussing
Difficulty problem solving
Difficulty completing everyday tasks
Reduced creativity
Emotional:
Lack of motivation
Lack of interest
Cynicism at Work including cynicism about your ability to do your job
Poor Performance
Increased stress and frustration
Physical:
Exhaustion
Headache or Stomach Aches
Gastrointestinal symptoms
How can you prevent burnout?
Recognizing the signs of burnout as they come is so important when it comes to preventing it. Keep an eye out for these and try the following to prevent it from happening:
Healthy, nutritious food - pay attention to what you’re eating and find healthy alternatives to add to your diet.
Activity - exercise is a great way to relieve stress and burnout. Find ways to get active when you can - they don’t have to involve intense activity.
Social interaction - reach out to those close to you for support or look for a group of likeminded people you can connect with online.
Mindfulness and meditation - take time out to focus on your mind and how you’re feeling. Breathwork and meditation can help to reduce stress and anxiety.
Mental health support - our wellbe social workers are always here for you 💛
Reevaluate your priorities - try to find balance between work and life. If you need a break, make sure you give yourself that time to refresh.
This post was written by wellbe’s social workers. If you’re looking for mental health support, visit our website to book your virtual complimentary meet and greet and learn how they can help you.