Our Tips For Handling Burnout and Chronic Stress
The most significantly stressful part of most people’s lives has been dealing with the pressures of their work day. Modern living has undoubtedly seen this source of stress expand into other areas of our lives. Today we struggle with parenting, relationships, personal identity, and politics in an increasingly violent world. Nearly 84% of people report that burnout is a severe problem in their current jobs. This experience of burnout seems to be reported more as world events impact our lives. The pandemic, global conflicts, and economic disparity lead to more people experiencing stress daily.
What Does Being Burnt Out Look and Feel Like?
There’s more to being burnt out than experiencing simple physical exhaustion. Burnout can impact energy levels at every level. Burnout can impact our emotional well-being, mental health, and of course, our physical health as well. Burnout occurs when the difficulty of managing our circumstances becomes too much to endure.
This feeling of being overwhelmed grinds away at our mental health, resulting in greater incidents of negative outlooks, anxiety, and depression in our day-to-day lives. Physical health concerns can result from these experiences, with depression and anxiety impacting our health significantly. Chronic stress has even been related to the onset of musculoskeletal pain, Type 2 diabetes, and migraines. All of these concerns, in turn, lead to even more concerning health concerns.
More and more patients are reporting feeling burnt out. They don’t always use the term “burnt out.” Instead, they will report symptoms such as those listed below:
- Fatigue that is not eased with sleep or rest
- Difficulty getting to sleep or remaining asleep throughout the night
- Migraines and headaches that occur more frequently
- Depression and anxiety
- Irritation or fidgetiness that becomes intrusive in their lives
- Memory loss, forgetfulness, or difficulty recalling activities or a specific event in your life
- Difficulty enjoying normal activities
- Difficulty performing tasks of self-care
These symptoms clearly indicate that you may suffer from burnout in your day-to-day life.
Managing And Preventing Burnout
The ongoing pandemic is certainly making managing our feelings of burnout difficult. While it is impossible to control the thoughts or actions of others, you can take steps to manage your own experiences. Here are some efforts you can make to help manage your burnout symptoms and help prevent them from occurring:
- Practice Self-Care: Caring for your emotional, physical, and mental well-being is essential to promoting an environment that avoids burnout. This environment should include gratitude, mindfulness, self-respect, and maintaining discipline when stress and adversity appear. You should ensure you stay hydrated, get enough sleep, and take time to spend out in nature. It’s also essential to seek psychiatric help and devote time to learning hobbies.
- Set Boundaries and Seek Help: Setting boundaries is essential in showing respect for ourselves. These steps can include only working your scheduled hours, keeping work out of the home, turning down a new project, and ensuring you take time to do things you enjoy. You can also share responsibilities with friends, family, and co-workers.
These are two steps you can take to help improve your overall well-being and avoid the risks of developing burnout. Don’t be afraid to speak to your family doctor when symptoms occur to seek advice on what steps you should take next.
