Feeling End of the year Burn-out?
The year is nearing its end and you might feel the stress and rush to get everything done.
If constant stress left you feeling helpless, disillusioned, and completely exhausted, you may be on the road to burn-out. Learn what you can do to regain your balance and feel positive and hopeful again.
What is burn-out?
Burn-out is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged 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 and motivation that led you to take on a certain role in the first place.
Burn-out reduces productivity and drains your energy, leaving you feeling increasingly helpless, hopeless, cynical, and resentful. Eventually, you may feel like you have nothing more to give.
The negative effects of burn-out spill over into every area of life, including your home, work, and social life. Burn-out can also cause long-term changes to your body that make you vulnerable to illnesses like colds and flu. Because of its many consequences, it’s important to deal with burn-out right away.
Are you on the road to burn-out?
You may be on the road to burn-out if:
Every day is a bad day
Caring about your work or home life seems like a total waste of energy
You’re exhausted all the time
Most of your day is spent on tasks you find either mind-numbingly dull or overwhelming
You feel like nothing you do makes a difference or is appreciated
Signs and symptoms of burn-out
Most of us have days when we feel helpless, overloaded or unappreciated. If you feel like this most of the time, however, you may be burned out.
Burn-out is a gradual process. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it can creep up on you. The signs and symptoms are subtle at first but become worse as time goes on. Think of the early symptoms as red flags that something is wrong that needs to be addressed. If you pay attention and actively reduce your stress, you can prevent a major breakdown. If you ignore them, you’ll eventually burn-out.
Physical signs and symptoms of burn-out
Feeling tired and drained most of the time
Lowered immunity, frequent illnesses
Frequent headaches or muscle pain
Change in appetite or sleep habits
Emotional signs and symptoms of burn-out
Sense of failure and self-doubt
Feeling helpless, trapped, and defeated
Detachment, feeling alone in the world
Loss of motivation
Increasingly cynical and negative outlook
Decreased satisfaction and sense of accomplishment
Behavioural signs and symptoms of burn-out
Withdrawing from responsibilities
Isolating yourself from others
Procrastinating, taking longer to get things done
Using food, drugs, or alcohol to cope
Taking out your frustrations on others
Skipping work or coming in late and leaving early
Prevention and Treatment
Although the term "burn-out" suggests it may be a permanent condition, it's reversible. An individual who is feeling burned out may need to make some changes to their work environment.
Approaching the Human resource department about problems in the workplace or talking to a supervisor about the issues could be helpful if they are invested in creating a healthier work environment.
In some cases, a change in position or a new job altogether may be necessary to put an end to burn-out.
It can also be helpful to develop clear strategies that help you manage your stress. Self-care strategies, like eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercises, and engaging in healthy sleep habits may help reduce some of the effects of a high-stress job.
A vacation may offer you some temporary relief too, but a week away from the office won't be enough to help you beat burn-out. Regularly scheduled breaks from work, along with daily renewal exercises, can be key to helping you combat burn-out.
Consider making an appointment with a professional Counsellor to assist you.
Source:
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/burnout-prevention-and-recovery.htm
https://www.verywellmind.com/stress-and-burnout-symptoms-and-causes-3144516
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