Burnout is a state that we will all experience throughout life whether it be in career, school, or other aspects of our lives. Burnout is a psychological state characterized by emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion due to excessive and persistent stress. Burnout occurring in the duration of one’s career can affect the way how they behave and live their life. Burnout leads to feeling helpless, hopeless, resentful, reduced productivity, and decreased motivation. Burnout can be seen in workplaces where a person has given their best by sacrificing themselves; however, they end up losing themselves in the process just for better results. For example, an employee has put all their effort into a project but as they strive to exceed their expectations, they also lose their mental health and physical health. Another example can be noted in a school setting where a student focuses entirely on their schoolwork yet at the same time their sleep, emotional well-being and mental health will be negatively affected.
Physical symptoms of burnout include headaches, back pain, and loss of appetite. When experiencing burnout, one’s sleep schedule will be disrupted, making it difficult to complete their daily tasks. Additionally, burnout can decrease one’s confidence and make them think that they are a failure. These symptoms are observed when an individual is unsure of their job expectations and has poor work-life balance. Finally, having lack of social support and not being able to talk to a friend can contribute to burnout.
To overcome this obstacle and be able to prevent burnout, it is important to build the habit of taking care of yourself. Some of the ways to handle burnout and recover from this is by exercising, sleeping, trying relaxing activities, asking for social support, and discussing your job expectations. Exercise and trying to get some physical activity incorporated into your daily life can help you deal with stress. In addition, adding on relaxing activities such as meditating and art activities into your schedule after work can help you manage your stress and make sure you are able to regulate how you feel. It is also important to maintain a good sleep schedule and being able to get 8 hours of sleep can help you restore and protect your well-being. When you feel stressed or upset, always reach out to someone you trust and love to have them listen to you and comfort you to feel better again.
References
Smith, Melinda, et al. “Burnout Prevention and Treatment.” HelpGuide.org, 5 Oct. 2021, https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/burnout-prevention-and-recovery.htm.
Informed Health. “Depression: What Is Burnout?” InformedHealth.org [Internet]., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 June 2020, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279286/.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. “Career Burnout.” CAMH, 2021, https://www.camh.ca/en/camh-news-and-stories/career-burnout.
Mayo Clinic Staff. “Know the Signs of Job Burnout.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 5 June 2021, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642.
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