Burn Out @ Work
Consistently tired? Questioning your value at work? Overwhelmingly stressed at work? Can’t sleep? Sundays are a dread cause Monday is a work day?
If you answered yes to any of the questions or are feeling stressed consistently about work then this is for you – I don’t have solutions but will get you thinking about it. Burn out is defined as ” ruin one’s health or become completely exhausted through overwork” or ” completely destroy a building or vehicle by fire, so that only a shell remains”.
We all know that stress can be bad for you, but did you know that it can cause heart disease, depression and diabetes? Essentially destroying your shell AKA your health. With the number of employees reporting signs of burnout on the rise, it’s clear that many workplaces are struggling to address the issue. The good news is there are simple steps you can take to reduce your stress levels and even avoid burnout in the first place.
Stress can cause you to overeat and gain weight. When your body is stressed out it produces high levels of cortisol — the “fight-or-flight” hormone that helps us deal with danger in the short term but wears down our bodies over time. This causes us to crave unhealthy foods like sugar or salt because they make our brains think we’re full after just one bite (therefore eliminating the need for an entire meal). I am a victim to this because I stress eat CONSISTENTLY…
You have a lot on your plate, and it’s important to keep yourself from burning out. Regular exercise, stretching and meditation can all help reduce stress. Easier said than done – obviously!
Exercise is good for the body and mind, so don’t forget about it in your busy schedule – even something as simple as scheduling a walk everyday can help. It can help clear your mind if you have trouble focusing on work tasks after a long day at the office. Stretching before bedtime can also help with sleep quality — which will leave you feeling more energized when you wake up in the morning!
Stress management is a skill that can be learned. Yes, it’s true! Stress is a complex and nuanced experience, but so are many other things in life. Learning to manage stress is no different from learning how to drive a car or prepare a pasta dish: with time and patience you’ll get the hang of it. There are plenty of books on the market that will walk you through various techniques for managing stress.
While stress management isn’t just about avoiding or coping with harmful situations at work—it also involves doing things like caring for yourself physically (getting enough sleep and exercise), practicing mindfulness meditation, practicing active listening skills, spending time with friends and family away from work (or maybe even going on vacation) —these practices can all help alleviate some of the detrimental effects that come along with working too hard.
Stress can be a serious issue and it leads to burn out if not checked.
The fact that we don’t often think of it as such is part of the problem—it’s not just a matter of getting some rest and relaxation, but also something you should be taking steps to avoid or manage. Your mental and physical health should be a priority, and that means taking steps to avoid and manage stress.
You might be wondering what causes work stress in the first place. It turns out there are many factors that contribute to this feeling: being overworked, having unrealistic expectations for yourself or others at work, or having to deal with high-pressure situations like deadlines or managing difficult personalities can all add up to an overwhelming workload.
Burnout is something that affects all of us at one point or another. But it’s important to remember that it doesn’t have to be an unmanageable problem. By taking steps now to avoid and manage stress, you can prevent burnout from becoming a serious issue in your life. I will be posting blogs on managing it before your shell is destroyed but first step will always be knowing that you are burnt out or in the process of getting burn out…