Beating Burnout
If constant stress has you feeling helpless, disillusioned, and completely exhausted, you may be on the road to burnout. When you’re burned out, problems seem insurmountable, everything looks bleak, and it’s difficult to muster up the energy to care, let alone take action to help yourself. Ways to ward off burnout include:
- Spot the signs of burnout: feeling drained; having frequent headaches or muscle pain; detaching from others; feeling hopeless, cynical, negative and irritable; and withdrawing from activities.
- List specific areas in your work and personal life that regularly cause excess strain. Devise at least one way to modify each situation to reduce its stressfulness.
- Build boundaries. Let others know that you’re feeling depleted and can’t begin new tasks. Take some time off.
- Vent to someone who can empathize with your situation.
How R&R Can Help
- Prioritize getting enough rest! The National Sleep Foundation continues to recommend that adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep nightly.
- Adequate sleep helps regenerate cells damaged by stress and fatigue.
- Activate your body’s relaxation response via restful practices such as meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, yoga, or deep breathing.
- At least two or three times per week, turn off the phone, spend some time alone, walk outdoors, or listen to your favorite music.
Mind Your Mental Health
Unfortunately, suicide rates in the U.S. over the past decade have risen across the lines of age, gender, race, and ethnicity. People from all walks of life can suffer from suicidal thoughts; your awareness of suicide risks can save lives.
- In this tip sheet, review the many misconceptions people have about who could potentially attempt suicide, and get facts that will increase your understanding.
- There are many observable factors in people’s situations and behaviors that suggest suicide risk. Check out the warning signs of suicide in adults.
- If you have had serious depression and thoughts of suicide, filling out this brief confidential checklist can help you decide whether to consider reaching out for professional assistance.
Working on Wellness
Health boosters such as exercise and eating a balanced diet can help you stay strong and beat burnout.
- While being active may not seem attractive when you’re feeling burned out, doing some rhythmic exercise provides great mind/body rejuvenation. Try walking, bike riding, swimming, martial arts, or even dancing.
- Pack healthy lunches and snacks for your workdays. Avoid the sugared and high-carbohydrate foods in vending machines.