Have you ever been hopeless, powerless, or hesitant at anything that you do? Having such feelings means you are experiencing burnout. Burnout is physical or emotional exhaustion, primarily due to long-term stress. It can happen when your body and mind get so burdened from working too hard, feeling unappreciated, or getting mixed up about expectations and priorities.
Under such a condition, you may get very sad, angry, or resentful. Sometimes, it can even lead you to depression.
What can you do to cope with burnout? Outlined below are some ways:
Take care of your body - Eat right, sleep well, and get into physical fitness. If you can take care of your physical health, your chances of burnout will be lower.
Take a break - Try to clear your calendar of everything for a while that is not a total necessity. Get some fresh air, get extra sleep, try eating only organic foods for a bit, and get some exercise.
Make realistic targets - Setting targets for yourself will give you a real sense of purpose. Make personal targets and break them down into short term and long term goals. Set up a plan to achieve these goals.
Improve your relationship with loved ones - Getting closer to your partner, children, friends, and other people you can count on will help restore your energy. It can also make you feel grateful, which can ease your burnout.
Understand your strengths and weaknesses - Knowing your strengths and weaknesses can help you learn better ways to deal with day-to-day stress.
Make your situation known - Talk to someone else. It could be a friend, family, life coach, counselor, or a professional practitioner. They may be able to offer insights and suggestions that you can use.
Sometimes, burnout can be a reality check for us. It may indicate that our life is out of balance in some way, and adjustments have to be made. It is important that we listen to what our bodies are telling us when we experience such a condition.
