Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged or excessive stress. People suffering burnout often feel extreme cynicism, detachment, and a diminished sense of accomplishment in both their professional and personal lives. Burnout is such a severe mental reaction to stress that a full recovery can often take months or even years in extreme cases. It’s extremely important to avoid burnout, so keep reading to see some tips on how you and others can avoid burnout.
Know the Signs of Burnout
Knowing the signs of burnout is the first step to stop it from happening. People actively experiencing burnout or approaching a state of burnout can exhibit signs of exhaustion, isolation, irritability, excessive daydreaming or escape fantasies, and frequent illness. If you or another person exhibit any of the behaviors or symptoms, it’s possible you are in or approaching a state of burnout, in which case you should follow the next tips in this article to avoid a complete burnout.
Seek Support from Peers
Asking for help from your co-workers, supervisor, friends, and family is a great way to relieve some of the stress that contributes to burnout. More often than not, people around you are willing to help in some capacity. Of course, you should always be reasonable when asking for assistance but requesting help from others on some hard tasks in your job or around your home can be a tremendous boon for you in your efforts to avoid burnout.
Move Your Body
Exercise is good for both your physical and mental health as it can improve your mood and energy throughout your day. Choose an activity you enjoy and try to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day. The endorphins released into your bloodstream from physical activity help you feel better and have a more positive outlook towards your goals.
Realign Your Goals
People approaching burnout often feel their goals and passions disintegrate right before their eyes. A good way to avoid burnout is to realign your goals and passions with yourself. Sit down and ask yourself what you really want out of your job and personal life and analyze how or what you’re doing to achieve those goals. Recentering your personal goals and ambitions can help you notice things about yourself you hadn’t previously noticed and can therefore help you prevent burnout.
Sources
https://www.healthline.com/health/tips-for-identifying-and-preventing-burnout#signs
https://www.teladoc.com/health-talk/8-tips-to-prevent-burnout-and-care-for-your-mental-health/
https://inside.ewu.edu/calelearning/psychological-skills/preventing-burnout/
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