How to Identify Burnout in High-Stress Environments.
We all experience some level of stress in our work and home life. However, when that stress becomes all-consuming, you begin losing motivation, or you’re no longer as productive as you once were, you may be experiencing burnout. As a knowledgeable life mentor, Meru Mentor has helped many mentees identify and overcome their burnout.
According to Oberlo, a person experiencing burnout may show one or more of these signs:
- Always Tired
- Physical Symptoms
- Low Productivity
- General Malaise
- Emotional Changes
- Mental Illness
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines burnout as “Exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration.”
Burnout is more than a dip in your usual mood or productivity levels. Learning how to prevent burnout will help you identify the signs before it’s too late and will help you maintain a healthy balance between work and everyday life’s responsibilities.
One: Start Small
One of the most important ways to avoid burnout is to start small. It’s easy to become overwhelmed when your to-do list keeps growing, and there seems to be no end in sight. If your responsibilities begin to cause unneeded stress, reevaluate your approach.
Here are a couple of ideas to help you start small:
- Create a List – Make a list of tasks that need to be accomplished today (and today only!)
- Take Breaks – Does it have to be done today? Right this moment? Remember it is okay to take breaks and recalibrate before continuing your work.
Two: Take Consistent Steps Forward
With your list of today’s tasks ready to go, you can begin tackling it without the noise of other miscellaneous responsibilities interrupting your workflow.
Keep your mind on task and work toward managing thoughts that cause you to derail. Consistency is key. Small steps forward will help you get done what needs to be done. Over time, the monstrous task you thought would never get done will finally be complete!
Three: Keep Going
Life doesn’t permit us to completely stop due to stress. Burnout can add to our stress because we begin to fall behind and become even more overwhelmed. It’s a spiral that can feel impossible to get out of. Preventing burnout is of high priority so that we can keep going.
Just because you’re physically able to get 50+ hours in a week doesn’t mean you need to be working that much. Working a sustainable number of hours per week is more important than trying to get in as much as possible. Working too much will lead to you feeling burnt out much quicker than if you had paced yourself.
Setbacks happen but keeping your goals in mind will help you keep going.
Four: Stay True to Yourself
Trying to be like someone else by keeping up with their schedule, accomplishments, and responsibilities is a sure way to cause burnout.
No two people are the same. What your coworker or friend can manage and accomplish will be different from you. Keep your priorities in front of your mind so that you don’t get distracted by what someone else is doing.
Avoid Burnout with Meru Mentor
This time of year can cause burnout more than any other season. The holiday festivities on top of an already busy schedule can make for a very stressful experience. Identifying and preventing burnout is key to being able to keep up with life’s demands and still enjoy the Christmas season, and fortunately, Meru Mentor is here to help as your personal mentor.
You deserve to enjoy the holidays! Let’s discuss how we can help you prioritize your to-dos and avoid burnout. Schedule a complimentary call now!