5 Ways to Avoid Burnout
We all know the feeling… the dread of going to work on Monday morning… the utter feeling of exhaustion… the desperation for a break. In other words, burnout. It’s a natural response to stress that affects our body, mind, nervous system, and emotional self. It leaves us feeling depleted, frustrated, hopeless and can mimic the flight, fight or freeze response (mostly the freeze response).
It happens when we’ve overworked ourselves and pushed ourselves to utter exhaustion. SO, what’s the good news here? It can be avoided! We can prepare ourselves ahead of time to avoid this miserable affliction.
Here are 5 ways you can avoid burnout:
Theme your days. For example:
Mondays: ‘Do The Hard Thing Day’ - get the most stressful things off your plate, Tuesdays: Follow ups with your clients, Wednesdays: Writing Wednesdays- day to journal or write in other ways, Thursdays: Exercise & Fitness Day….you get the gist! Theming your days will help you knock out your tasks in an organized way and help you to feel more in control of your life.
Make sure you’re getting enough good sleep every night. Lack of quality sleep is hugely related to stress, anxiety, lack of focus, etc.
Meditate (or simply sit in stillness) for at least 5 minutes every day. Meditation is proven to calm the nervous system and enhance our mental wellbeing. It prompts us to tap into the present moment, into the body, and generally relax.
Seek support. Ensure that you have someone at work who you can talk to if the stress of your job is getting to be overwhelming (HR, a manager, etc.). Open up to friends or co-workers about what you are experiencing so that you know you aren’t alone.
Find a relaxing activity. Find a hobby that has nothing to do with being productive. Pick up a good book! Take long walks in the park! Try baking something! Choose something that has nothing to do with being productive and everything to do with relaxing and enjoying life.
Burnout Checklist:
If you’re unsure if you’re experiencing burnout (or nearing it) here is what Mayo Clinic recommends asking yourself:
Have you become cynical or critical at work?
Do you drag yourself to work and have trouble getting started?
Have you become irritable or impatient with co-workers, customers or clients?
Do you lack the energy to be consistently productive?
Do you find it hard to concentrate?
Do you lack satisfaction from your achievements?
Do you feel disillusioned about your job?
Are you using food, drugs or alcohol to feel better or to simply not feel?
Have your sleep habits changed?
Are you troubled by unexplained headaches, stomach or bowel problems, or other physical complaints?
Finally, hypnotherapy is an absolutely amazing tool for relieving stress, harmful habits, sleep improvement, etc.! Book your session today!