It can happen to anyone. Without knowing how to spot the signs and symptoms, it could destroy every aspect of your life. Contrary to what most people think, burnout doesn't happen suddenly, and it doesn’t show up as feeling perpetually tired.
It's built-up stress which can lead to depression and significantly impact our mental health. A study by Deloitte revealed that 91% of respondents have experienced unmanageable amounts of stress and frustration which has negatively impacted the quality of their work.
It has a far-reaching impact on just studying or working from home. When it comes to its impact on personal relationships, burnout has impacted 83% of people. Knowing how to avoid running on empty is recognising the signs and symptoms when they start showing. Here is what you need to know.
Burnout is officially a medical diagnosis
Burnout has been officially recognised as a medical diagnosis by the World Health Organisation. Experiencing burnout cannot only affect how we perform, but it can eventually spill over into every aspect of our lives. So far, as many as 67% of all workers believe that burnout has worsened over the course of the pandemic. But what does it mean?
What is Burnout?
Feeling constantly overwhelmed, stressed and overworked are just some of the causes that lead to burnout. It's chronic workplace stress that has not being successfully managed. It is often masked with statements such as 'working well under pressure’ or 'being a hard worker,' but it can harm your mental health in the long run. Working parents are more likely to experience an increased level of burnout as they try to juggle work and home life with 47% of working mothers and 38% of working fathers often feeling burnt out.
Signs & Symptoms
Three tell-tale signs you are experiencing burnout are:
Some of the other signs and symptoms are a change in diet or sleeping patterns, isolating yourself from others, arriving late to work, procrastinating, detachment and a lack of accomplishment. It has also been known to overlap with symptoms of depression which can affect every aspect of our lives.
How to deal with burnout?
Burnout is a state of mental and physical exhaustion that can leave anyone dreading the things they once found stimulating or even loved. If left unchecked for a long period of time, it can cause serious physical and psychological illnesses such as depression, diabetes, and heart disease. Some ways to deal with burnout is:
Ask for help. Asking for help can be one of the best things you can do to reduce your level of stress and be more efficient. Seeking professional help can also help you come up with practical solutions that best meet your needs.
Take a breather. Try slowing things down. It can be in the form of taking leave or even a change of scenery that helps you stay relaxed. You may also want to be more realistic with yourself on what you can take on in terms of work to avoid overworking yourself.
Pace yourself. It is always important that work is part of your life, but shouldn't be your life.
Take care of your sleep hygiene. Sleep has a great impact on how we feel, act and think. Lack of sleep can make you less efficient in all aspects of your life. Make sure that you create a good environment for yourself to sleep.
Avoid quick fixes. Quick pick me ups like sugar, caffeine and alcohol can leave you feeling worse off than when you first started. Using these to help spike your energy levels can also have a negative impact on your health. Remember that your health comes first.
