Burnout. It’s a real thing.
Some days you just aren’t mentally as sharp or physically alert as you usually are. You walk into your office feeling sluggish, tired, and a step behind. You know the day is going to be tough, because you just don’t have the energy to focus, or the desire to even try.
You are overwhelmed and burned out.
It happens to all of us.
The key is to identify what burnout means for you, what triggers it, and most important, how to move out of it. Staying in burnout will affect you on many levels.
Step #1 – Identify
What does burnout look like for you? Do you want to eat more chocolate than normal? Are you short tempered? Do you say “yes” to everything because you aren’t up for a discussion of the alternative? Are you lethargic?
Step #2 – Discover
What are some of your triggers? Working long hours a few days in a row? Less sleep at night than normal? Skipping self care activities such as yoga, meditation, healthy eating, drinking water? Frustration with your job, personal life, goals? Boredom?
Step #3 – Imagine
What are some strategies to overcome burnout that work for you? Take a “turn around day” when you have a completely clear schedule and you work on catching up. Schedule a day off to relax and pamper yourself. Turn the phone off for 1 hour each evening. Get up 10 minutes earlier to meditate. Go to bed 30 minutes earlier to feel more rested. Share your concerns with a friend, co-worker or therapist.
Take time today to identify your burnout triggers so that the next time you’re feeling stressed, take a look at these action steps again and prevent the burnout!
