Posted by Burnout is a state of mental and physical tiredness that can take the fun out of your job, your relationships, and your time with your family.
This condition can be caused by long-term exposure to stressful situations, like taking care of a sick family member, working long hours, or hearing upsetting news about politics and school safety.
But it’s not always easy to tell if someone is burned out. So, we’ve put together a guide to help you spot the signs of burnout and find ways to prevent it.
Do you want to help friends, family, or coworkers who might be going through this trying time? We’ve also compiled a list of our favorite ways to stop burnout.
What is Burnout?
In the 1970s, a psychologist named Herbert Freudenberger coined the term “burnout” to describe a state of high stress that makes a person feel physically, mentally, and emotionally tired.
Burnout is much worse than just being tired. It makes it hard for people to deal with stress and do their day-to-day jobs.
Burnout makes people feel like they have nothing left to give and may not want to get out of bed in the morning. They might even become depressed and have a negative view of life.
Burnout doesn’t go away on its own. Not treating it can lead to major physical and mental illnesses like depression, heart disease, and diabetes.
5 Signs of Burnout
Worried that you may have burnout but don’t know what it looks like? We’ve made a list of signs to help you determine what’s wrong.
1. Exhaustion
Feeling exhausted both physically and mentally. Some physical signs include headaches, stomachaches, and changes in what you eat or how you sleep.
2. Isolation
Burnout makes people feel like they have too much to do. Because of this, they might stop going out with friends, family, and coworkers and telling them things.
3. Escape dreams
People with burnout may fantasize about leaving work or going on a solo vacation because they are unhappy with how much work they have to do. In the worst cases, they may use drugs, booze, or food to dull the pain of their feelings.
4. Irritability
Burnout can make people more likely to lose their temper with friends, coworkers, and family. Regular sources of worry, like getting ready for a work meeting, driving the kids to school, and taking care of housework, can also start to feel impossible, especially when things don’t go as planned.
5. Frequent sickness
Like other types of long-term worry, burnout can weaken your immune system, making you more likely to get colds, the flu, or sleepless nights. It can also cause mental health problems like anxiety and sadness.
Related article: 10 Tips for Minding Your Mental Health At Work
How to Prevent Burnout
Stress is something that can’t be avoided, but burnout can. If you do these things, you might be able to stop fear from taking over:
Exercise
Exercise is good for our bodies but can also make us feel better about ourselves.
Are you short on time? You don’t have to go to the gym for hours to get these perks. Short walks and mini-workouts are easy ways to get some exercise every day.
Eat healthy food
A natural way to treat depression is to eat a healthy diet of omega-3 fatty acids. Flaxseed oil, walnuts, and fish are all high in omega-3s, which may help improve your happiness.
Learn how to sleep well
Good sleep habits are important for our health because our bodies need time to rest and reset.
The National Sleep Foundation says that avoiding caffeine before bed, creating a relaxing bedtime routine, and keeping phones out of the bedroom can all help people get a good night’s sleep.
Ask for help
When things are hard, it’s essential to ask for help. If it’s hard for you to ask for help, you might want to set up a “self-care check-in” with close friends and family so that you can look out for each other during hard times.
Do you want to find a job that truly fulfills you? Visit Jobstore.com as soon as possible for amazing career opportunities in your are!
Anisa is a writer who focuses on career and lifestyle topics in an effort to motivate both job searchers and employers towards greater fulfillment in their professional lives.
Reach me at anisa@jobstore.com.