What is Burnout?
We can all relate to the feeling of being burnt out. Whether it’s because you’ve got endless work projects on the go or you’re trying to juggle several personal responsibilities, life can be tiring.
Often called ‘adrenal fatigue’, burnout refers to long-term exhaustion resulting from being constantly swamped with work and other responsibilities. It can leave you feeling physically, mentally, and emotionally drained.
What Are the Causes of Burnout?
Burnout is most commonly caused by unmanageable workloads and impossible work deadlines. It can also be caused by a lack of proper communication with managers or clients, leading to excess stress and anxiety.
What Are the Types of Burnout?
There are three main types of burnout:
- Overload burnout - when you are gradually working harder and harder to reach your goals. This is the most common form of burnout that people experience.
- Under-challenged burnout - when you feel underappreciated, and you don’t feel adequately challenged in your role at work. As a result, you worry that your success is being limited, and you start to avoid your job responsibilities.
- Neglect burnout - when you feel incompetent at work or like you don’t deserve the role that you’re in. This is very closely related to imposter syndrome.
What Are the Signs of Burnout?
Burnout doesn't come on suddenly. It's the accumulation of stress over time that eventually builds to a point of breakdown. Some of the common tell-tale signs that you're heading for burnout include
- Chronic fatigue or low energy
- Lack of concentration or focus at work
- Feeling anxious or depressed
- Feelings of hopelessness
How to Overcome Burnout
If you are experiencing one or more of the symptoms above, you might need to make some changes to your schedule to prevent you from reaching the point of breakdown.
Take a Break
One of the most effective ways to prevent burnout is taking a break. Often, burnout results from feeling like your work is never-ending and you are constantly working hard to achieve a goal that seems almost impossible.
Sometimes, working harder is not the answer. Taking a break might be just what you need to reach your goals.
By giving yourself time to relax, your body and mind can rest and recover. When you go back to work, you will feel refreshed, your concentration and focus will be better, and your work performance will get a boost!
Stay Offline
The internet makes it all too easy to consume endless pages of information, and this can lead to information overload. Your phone or laptop are also the primary way for your work colleagues and managers to contact you about your upcoming work deadlines.
Putting your phone away and staying offline during non-work hours can give your brain a chance to rest. You can detach from the email and social media notifications, and instead of staring at a screen, you can enjoy some quality time with your family or take a long walk out in nature.