Avoiding Burnout – In today’s busy day and age, workers everywhere are becoming exhausted by rigorous productivity expectations, decreased socialisation opportunities, and personal stressors impacting workplace performance, just to name a few. This has led to rapid rates of burnout amongst workers, with an estimated 3 in 5 workers affected. Burnout is not merely feeling tired or stressed, it is a chronic condition that can significantly impact mental health and overall quality of life if not promptly addressed. At Horizon Plymouth, we are passionate about supporting the mental health of our clients by recognising and addressing signs and symptoms of burnouts before they occur.
Symptoms of burnout
Burnout is a pervasive condition that combines physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion with feelings such as detachment and decreased feelings of accomplishment. These symptoms can cause strained relationships with co-workers and loved ones, in addition to impairing job performance. Specifically, common symptoms of burnout include:
- Extreme exhaustion: Often, burnout manifests as extreme fatigue, disrupted sleep patterns, and overall feelings of physical depletion. This can make it difficult to find the energy to engage in daily activities that were once exciting and easy.
- Emotional detachment: Feeling numb or indifferent to the life going on around you is a common symptom of burnout, even feeling detachment related to things that you used to enjoy or the people around you who care about you.
- Decreased performance: Burnout takes an enormous toll on you cognitively, which often impairs your performance as concentration, decision making, and problem-solving functions are impacted. These symptoms can also exacerbate feelings of frustration and helplessness.
- Negativity: When you feel exhausted, as though you are drowning, it can become seemingly impossible to view the world in a positive light. Individuals may become critical not only of their work but also of themselves and those around them.
- Lack of feelings of accomplishment: Even when an immense amount of effort is put into work, those experiencing burnout may struggle to find satisfaction in their achievements, leading to a seemingly never-ending cycle of dissatisfaction.
Avoiding burnout
Recognising the symptoms of burnout is an important step in heading off the condition before it worsens. But, if you know that you are at risk for burnout, how can you prevent it from developing? Ultimately, the specific strategies depend on the individual, but common efforts include:
- Self-care: Taking the time to prioritise adequate sleep, ensure proper nutrition, engage in physical activity, and spend time doing activities that bring joy and relaxation can promote feelings that counteract burnout.
- Set boundaries: Knowing when you are becoming overworked and taking steps to prevent it can help to avoid burnout. Establish limits on work hours and don’t be afraid to say no to activities that would cause you to overcommit.
- Consult a counsellor: Speaking with a counsellor can provide you with an unbiased, objective look at your habits and routines while providing coping strategies and a safe space to examine your feelings.
- Establish a support system: Having people you can rely on, be vulnerable with, and relate to about your struggles with burnout can help provide the external support and communication need to help support your mental health.
If you feel that you are deep in the grasp of burnout with no way out, Horizon Plymouth can help you through the healing process in order to experience enjoyment and fulfilment once again. Whether you are only just beginning to suspect the initial signs of burnout or have been suffering for a while, the experienced counsellors at Horizon Plymouth are here to help you. Contact us to schedule your initial consultation today and begin your journey towards improved mental health and healing today.