If you pride yourself on being the ultimate multi-tasker like I do, it can reap rewarding benefits; however, the downside of being all things to all people is the wear and tear it places on our bodies emotionally and physically. Many times we’re not aware that our daily grind had taken a toll on us until it is too late. Webster defines burnout as exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration. Burnout can leave you feeling overwhelmed and can reduce your productivity at work and in your home life.
Burnout often leads to feelings of hopelessness, cynicism, and resentfulness, often times making it hard for others to be around us. If this sounds familiar to you, it may be time to take action. Below you will find information from Helpguide.org authors Melinda Smith, M.A., Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., and Robert Segal, M.A. that can help you determine if you may be experiencing burnout.
Signs and Symptoms of Burnout:
• Feeling like every day is a bad day
• No longer caring about your work or home life, withdrawing from responsibilities
• Feeling exhausted most of the time
• The majority of your day is spent feeling overwhelmed or going through the motions
• You feel like nothing you do makes a difference or is appreciated.
• Sense of failure
Causes of Burnout: Work-related
• Feeling you have little or no control over your work
• Lack of recognition or rewards for good work
• Overly demanding job expectations
• Working in a chaotic or high-pressure environment
Lifestyle causes:
• Working too much, without enough time for relaxing and socializing
• Being expected to be too many things to too many people
• Taking on too many responsibilities, without enough help from others
• Not getting enough sleep
• Lack of close, supportive relationships
Knowing that you are experiencing burnout is the first step toward taking action against it. Below are some helpful suggestions that can assist you with coping and recovering from burnout.
• Start the day off right: Spend a few minutes in meditation, prayer, journaling or doing something that promotes a sense of calm.
• Engage in healthy habits: Get plenty of rest, exercise and sleep.
• Set boundaries. By learning to say no you control what you can handle
• Rediscover your passion for living: Try something new that inspires you
• Learn to manage stress. If this is hard for you, seek the help of a professional
Remember you only get one shot at life. You want to make the most of it by living it to the fullest and being fulfilled each day you wake up in the morning. The ability to say "life is good" means that you have learned to balance the good with the not-so-good things that life can sometimes throw our way. By replenishing your reserves emotionally and physically you are able to better serve yourself, employer, and family.
