If the warning signs of a burnout resonate then you need to act. There are serious consequences to your physical and mental health if you do not curb the continuous stress you experience.
Talk to Someone and Ask for Help
Tell a loved one, talk to your doctor, a counselor or a trusted person in the workplace. Only you know how you truly feel and what is coursing through your head. Nobody can know unless you share.
Talking about how you feel may be difficult but this is the first essential step to working yourself out of a burnout.
Rest and Recuperation
A burnout leaves you feeling physically and mentally exhausted and your body and mind need rest. Take time out from your work using medical leave or a sabbatical. This means no contact with work. Cancel your appointments. Rest. Sleep.
Find an Outlet for Your Emotions
It’s common for emotions to out themselves in unhealthy ways during a burnout. This may be by means of frustration directed at loved ones, anger at colleagues or isolating yourself. Finding a healthy way to out your emotions will help you enormously.
This may be by heading to the gym, swimming 50 laps at the pool, doing yoga, or going for a run or walk. It may be something slow for short periods of time. Whatever works for you as an outlet to release negative feelings.
Eat Healthily
It’s important to look after your physical self when you are experiencing a burnout. This means replenishing your body. Eating healthy meals, drinking plenty of water and keeping away from alcohol, processed sugar, nicotine and caffeine has a huge impact on how you feel.
Be Mindful
A little but of doing nothing is good for you. Just sit and be aware of where you are and what you are doing (nothing). Watch people. Watch clouds. Breathe. Just be.
Reassess Your Job After Your Recovery
If your job has been the root cause of your burnout then you need to reassess your job, your work environment and your responsibilities.
Write down the issues. Can you discuss these with someone in your workplace? Can changes be made to your role, your workplace or how or where you carry your work out?
If continuing in your current role will cause a further deterioration of your health quitting your job may be the sensible choice.
Be sure to consider all your options. Talk about the possibilities before making any life changing decisions.
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